The Ignacio School Board recently passed a unanimous vote for a four-day school week. This will lengthen the school day but lessen the number of student and staff days in the year. The student calendar will reflect 146 days and the teachers are slated for 164 days. The vote also reflected recent surveys from both community and staff that showed over 70% support for the change in the school week next year. We will continue to communicate necessary information as it arises. Please note that a four-day week slideshow presentation can be accessed on the district’s website.  

We also understood very clearly that there needed to be opportunities for academic support and enrichment to engage your children on Fridays. There is a plan being developed that will allow for bus pick up/drop off points to and from school. It will also provide breakfast and lunch on those days. The school will provide academic support to address loss of learning and credit recovery. We are grateful for the local youth groups such as Boys & Girls Club and the SunUte Community Center to provide further activities for youth on designated Fridays, details will be forthcoming. 

The School Board also unanimously passed moderate raises for both certified and classified staff. We are very appreciative of our hard-working staff and wanted to acknowledge their resiliency and dedication in working with our youth.  

Both of these actions are the first steps in addressing two important areas of the Strategic Plan. One area was centered on Academic Growth and Achievement, and the other was on Staff Development and Retention.  

With the move to a four-day week, we hope to maximize attendance by both students and staff — Monday through Thursday. Many activities and athletic events will be shifted to Friday and Saturday. We also hope parents will schedule appointments and have family events on Fridays instead of during the week. In this way, we can maximize quality time between students and teachers in the classroom to produce the academic growth that is desired. 

Please let me know if you have questions and thank you for your support! I am proud to serve this community and work with such a dedicated staff. 

The Ignacio School Board approved a four-Day Week School Calendar for 2022-2023. Fridays will be off with the exception of Sept. 9 and Jan. 20, 2023. There will be enrichment activities for students on the off Fridays with breakfast and lunch provided on those days as well as transportation.