Law enforcement not concerned by potential 4-day week

KELLOGG –– The possibility of the Kellogg School District transitioning to a four-day school week has sparked numerous discussions, both in-person and online, many of these concerning what the kids will do with the additional day off. 

With reported goals of recruiting and retaining high-level teachers and staff driving the potential change, people have accused the district of not considering what the students will do during the extra day, despite the proposed plan presenting potential solutions. 

At the elementary and middle school levels, kids will have access to the district's two after-school programs, both of which will provide the students with breakfast and lunch. However, no after-school programs exist at Kellogg High School, but students are allowed to attend the school on Fridays for academic support.  

Comments on various social media platforms ranged from “Who is documenting the potential unruly/crime rate from the teens who are unsupervised with less structured activities?” Or, “I honestly think it will cause more issues. (The) Problem that I have been seeing is there is no place for the kids to go after school or the weekends, so they just get into trouble and vape.” 

Very little data exists to suggest that juvenile crime rates significantly increase during the school year on days when class is not in session (weekends, holidays, or other off days). However, when comparing the school year to the summer break, Kellogg Police Chief Paul Twidt shared a surprising observation. 

“I don’t have stats showing the juvenile crime rate difference between summer months and school year months, but I’d say we respond to more juvenile calls during the school year than we do during the summer months,” Twidt said. “Maybe we see an increase in juvenile calls on Friday, but I personally don’t think crime rates are going to skyrocket.” 

Pinehurst Police Chief John Richter feels similarly to his Kellogg counterpart.

“Our kids are pretty good, including during the summer break,” Richter said. “I don’t believe that we will see any applicable rise in crime.” 

Shoshone County Prosecutor Ben Allen provided some insight into what his office has experienced with juveniles, both in and out of the school year, as well as how he feels things may or may not change if the four-day schedule is adopted.  

According to Allen, crime rates increase across all age groups during the summer months when the days are longer and people are more active. 

“There is undoubtedly a benefit that can come from a four-day school week, but consideration should be given to those times when our youth are without parent or adult supervision,” Allen stated. “Reflecting back on juvenile cases I have handled over the years, it would be fair to conclude that a disproportionate amount of juvenile offenses are committed during times when no adult or parent supervision was present. This holds true even under the current five-day school structure where many teens go without adult or parent supervision from the time school releases until their parents get off work.” 

However, Allen believes that if the district decides to go to a four-day school week, the community should rally together to cultivate opportunities for the students, to curb any potential ‘idle hands’ situations from taking root. 

“I trust that whichever direction our school board goes, their decision will be an informed one,” Allen said. “We elect school board members and entrust them with decision-making to research and deliberate on what is best for our community. If our school board believes that a four-day school week is beneficial for our teachers, students, and budgets, I would like to see our community support that decision and then rally together to identify how we can plug those students back into prosocial activities and community involvement during their day off.” 

Studies from other districts currently using a four-day week, including the Post Falls School District, show that behaviors requiring disciplinary action have been significantly reduced since moving to the four-day format. They have also seen a decrease in dropout rates. 

Post Falls, who is currently still in the first year of their four-day schedule is receiving increasingly positive feedback from the community on their schedule change. According to a February 2024 survey by the Post Falls School District, 76.6% of parents are in favor of the four-day week, which is up from the 62% who were in favor of the change in March of last year.