NCSD could have 4-day school week proposal by the 2025-2026 winter break

Even though in the past the Newton Community School District has gauged the community’s interests in having a four-day school week through general surveys, school board members stressed the need to have a clearer idea of what that really means when seeking input for a four-day school week once again.

In June 2024, survey results showed Cardinal families were not fully opposed or in favor of a four-day-a-week calendar. Baxter Community School District just recently announced it would be shifting to a four-day school week next year in an effort to attract new teachers and curb their turnover rates.

Newton Superintendent Tom Messinger spoke with KNIA-KRLS in late January about his intentions to seek further input from the community about the advantages and disadvantages of moving to a four-day school week. At the Feb. 24 school board meeting, officials discussed the strategy the district was taking.

School board member Kristi Meyer wanted to make sure that communications distributed to the community clearly explain what a four-day school week means.

“The people that have talked to me about it, everybody has a whole different perception of what a four-day school week means,” Meyer said. “I think that’s really important. Because when the first survey went out about year-round, people just voted their interpretation of what that means.”

School board member Cody Muhs said, “The difference is we didn’t have any of it fleshed out before. It was a general idea. Both ideas are very fleshed out now.”

Messinger anticipated a detailed proposal would be presented to the school board shortly before Christmas break in the 2025-2026 school year. Robyn Friedman, chair of the Newton school board, requested an update be scheduled at a future board meeting to discuss these preparations more in-depth.