20-03-2025
Franklin County Schools may switch to four-day school week to attract teachers
FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Franklin County School is considering transitioning to a four-day school week for students beginning in August 2025.
The goal is to bring in qualified teachers to the area.
'We want the best and brightest teachers to come to Franklin County, to live in our community, to be paid a high salary, and to teach our students,' Superintendent Steven Lanier said.
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The current starting teacher salary is $44,000 but the school is starting negotiations for that to change.
'We're looking at starting teacher pay to be around $53,000. So with a high starting salary a high and the opportunity to have a four-day school week, why in the world would you not want to come to Franklin County,' Lanier said.
The pay raise has to be approved by the school board. There are currently 70 teachers working at the Franklin County School and the Apalachicola Bay Charter School.
With 1,200 students in Pre-K through 12th grade. The school superintendent believes the change would improve the graduation rate and increase enrollment.
They're asking the community to weigh in on the issue before making a decision. They've prepared an online survey to measure the interest and determine the pros and cons.
'The survey so far have been very positive. People are in favor of a four-day week because it'll help hopefully bring more students to Franklin County. I'll afford them opportunities that they have never had before,' Lanier added.
The 4-day workweek would only apply to teachers and students. The district office employees will maintain a 5-day work week. The Florida Department of Education mandates students to spend 1500 minutes at school per week.
The school is looking to add 30 to 45 minutes per day onto the schedule. They are still deciding if the day off will fall on Friday or Monday. But having a workday off could impact students with working parents.
'The only negative effects I've heard so far from the surveys are parents that both their parents work with their single parents and they work because they're wondering what they're going to do with their children on that off day,' Lanier said.
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The school district will hold a series of meetings, starting in April to hear from the receiving public input, they will come to the school board with a recommendation.
The school board will decide whether or not to approve it.
To fill out the survey, .
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