The Independence School District has recently signed to start a 4 day school week starting the 23-24 school year. We are hoping to revert this back to 5 day school weeks. The Independence School Board passed this with no consideration for the families and children involved. The school board passed this claiming it was not about money, but rather about holding on to and hopefully getting more teachers in their district. The problems with this are as follows:

1. Most employers will not allow parents not be off on Mondays simply because their children do not have school.
2. The school board promised options for the 5th day for students but thus far has only offered a full day kids safari option that will charge parents $45 per day. Over the course of the school year these funds exceed $1000 per school year. 
3. Kids safari is not an option available to all students. Upon speaking to kids safari, I have learned they do not have the staff available to work with or watch children with disabilities. 
4. There are no options for students with disabilities on fifth days, and this results in parents loss of work, income and possibly housing due to being unable to work. 
5. Paying $45 a week is not an option for all parents as not every income is the same. Low income households will not have the option of kids safari and again, results in loss of work and income. 

There are many risks and casualties associated with this 4 day school week passing, and many have been overlooked or ignored by the school board. I understand this has worked in other districts, however our district did not plan ahead of time to make this will work in Independence nor did they consider how this lack of planning impacts the families who lives here. My hope is to gain enough signatures to reverse this decision. Thank you for taking the time and I hope you will sign!