Surrey Public School to move to a four-day school week

SURREY, N.D. (KMOT) - More and more school districts across the state are opting for four-day weeks for students.

According to the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction, 17 schools statewide currently follow this model. Surrey Public School District will join this group in the coming school year.

The four-day school week at Surrey Public School was tossed around before, but next school year, it’s going to stick.

“Oh, I was so excited. That’s Friday off, three-day weekend,” said Matthias Richard, a Surrey student.

Superintendent David Gerding said the administration researched the pros and cons and talked with schools within the region that have been operating within a four-day school week for years.

“They came back to me and said, ‘This could be a beneficial situation for our school,’” said Gerding.

Gerding said it’ll help with teacher recruitment and give kids and adults alike more time with family and the community at large.

Xander Grosz, who has taught English at Surrey middle and high schools for five years, said his salary doesn’t drop.

“In the social zeitgeist, there is a really big push towards proper and healthy work-life balance, along with a focus on mental health,” said Grosz.

The four-day week will extend Surrey’s school day by 45 minutes.

Richard said he’ll be getting an extra 10 minutes per class period. The student said it’ll be better for his life in and outside of school.

“I’m in football, so that gives us a whole day to work on stuff, prepare for games, and all that kind of stuff, practice,” said Richard.

Gerding said the schedule change is hardest on parents who go to work five days a week, so childcare will be available from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the school every Friday.

“Change is hard, and so when we met with the parents, we asked them, ‘What were their concerns,’ and we addressed every concern,” said Gerding.

The school will also have what’s called enrichment days on a Friday once a month for students who need extra help from their teachers.

Surrey educates more than 400 students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The superintendent said they are surveying parents to determine the need for childcare on Fridays, and so far have at least 10 children who will need it.