Kellogg school district ramps up for four-day pilot program

KELLOGG — The first bell of the school year hasn’t quite rung yet, but Kellogg School District is getting ready to take on the pilot four-day school week Sept. 3 on the first day of school.  

After talks with school staff in other four-day districts to prepare, Kellogg Schools Superintendent Lance Pearson said he’s been surprised by the ease with which families and district staff are settling in to try the new setup. 

“It’s going to be a minimal impact they’re going to go a little bit longer. From our perspective, it has been a very, very smooth transition. Everybody seems on board,” Pearson said. 

Noting that Kellogg struggled with school attendance even before the pandemic, Pearson is excited to see if the change results in better attendance numbers. 

“If it doesn’t work for us, make no qualms about it, we will go back,” Pearson said. 

In the latest Kellogg school newsletter, administrators stated the pilot program is intended to provide “more flexibility and opportunities for both students and staff” in order to maximize the educational time at school.  

“We’re also excited for two days a month for teachers to meet and get the little things done they need to do,” Pearson said. 

Kellogg Middle School’s additional programming is planned to take place from 9 a.m. to noon Fridays with students receiving breakfast and lunch before being released.

Pinehurst Elementary School’s PASS program will be offered Fridays with a 6.5-hour special day with breakfast, lunch, enrichment activities and assistance with schoolwork before dismissal at 2 p.m. 

Pearson said some of the balance will be finding ways to keep the programming an exciting extracurricular for kids to participate in rather than feeling like they are at school while their friends are home. It’s unsure what program attendance on Fridays is going to look like, so the district is preparing to adjust on the fly with what is needed. 

“We need to meet the needs for all of our students,” Pearson said.