An average Florida school day is 6hr and 43minutes. Lee county seems to slowly be adding more and more time to a typical school day with no time for planning and self care. Our new norm has everyone, students and staff alike, working twice as hard. Many school districts across the US have implemented four day work weeks with great success. 

Why should we we move to a four day work week? Many Lee county district employees are working double time to fill in for GC staff, or simply filling in for staff members that have had it with being over worked, under paid, and under appreciated. Moving to a four day work week would allow teachers an extra day for planning and grading at home without losing weekend family time. The district would save money in transportation costs, and some schools could even bring in extra money into their school should they choose to be open on the 5th day and charge a fee for the day. 

Other pros of the four day work week are improvements in students attendance, ability for parents/staff to make appts without missing school, money saved means more money for raises, four day work week is a hiring incentive, less stressed staff means less turn over, and less stressed students means lower conflicts. 

We are already working more hours, so why not add a little more time to gain an extra day off? Thank you for your time and consideration.