The Kootenai School District has become the newest Idaho school system to adopt a four-day weekly schedule, joining more than 95 other districts and charter schools across the state operating on the condensed calendar.
School board trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the change, which will eliminate Friday classes beginning next school year. The district serves approximately 215 students along the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Reasons Behind the Schedule Change
Unlike many Idaho districts that have shortened their school weeks to address budget constraints or teacher recruitment challenges, Kootenai officials say the decision centers on different concerns.
Superintendent Brad Baumberger, who assumed leadership last June, said the change will give teachers additional time to handle administrative tasks including paperwork, lesson planning, and grading assignments. He noted that teachers currently struggle to complete all required duties during their standard planning periods.
The district also aims to address chronic Friday absences tied to student activities. Athletic competitions, college campus visits, career exploration trips to area manufacturing facilities, and other extracurricular programs frequently pull students from classes, often for entire school days due to the district’s remote location.
These absences create problems for the small district, where even modest numbers of missing students significantly impact average daily attendance figures. Because state funding calculations rely on attendance data, the absences carry financial consequences.
Community Reaction Mixed
The vote followed public comment that revealed divided opinions among parents and staff.
Teachers spoke in favor of the change, arguing that their current daily planning time proves insufficient to complete all job requirements.
Some parents expressed concerns about Friday childcare arrangements, noting the limited availability of local childcare services. Others voiced frustration about what they described as inadequate information from district officials, pointing out that the proposal was posted just four days before the scheduled vote.
Baumberger said he began considering the four-day schedule shortly after taking his position and discussed the possibility with newly elected board members earlier this year.
What Comes Next
The district will implement the four-day school week when the next academic year begins. School officials will need to finalize the specific calendar and communicate schedule details to families in coming months.
The transition places Kootenai among a growing number of Idaho school districts that have moved away from traditional five-day schedules. The four-day model has gained traction in rural and small-town communities across the state, though the reasons for adoption vary by district.
Parents will need to make Friday childcare arrangements, while students and teachers prepare for longer school days Monday through Thursday to meet state-mandated instructional hour requirements.