The Ely school district is spiraling down a financial hole. It is hard to tell, however, when monthly board meetings are done in eight minutes. There needs to be more discussion on a four-day school week at the monthly meetings.
Once dismissed as patently absurd, more and more school districts - including right here in Ely - are pondering the idea of a four-day school week. There’s no doubt that money is driving the decision.
Years of declining enrollment and rising expenditures have taken their toll, and now that Covid funds have gone away, the district has seen six-figure budget deficits and a reserve fund that’s dwindling rapidly.
The district has slashed its budget over the last two years and will need to do so again, and indeed, desperate times call for desperate measures.
That’s why Ely may join neighboring schools including those in Babbitt, Tower, Silver Bay and Two Harbors in going with a four-day week.
A survey on the possibility is a step in the right direction and we’d like to see the board openly address the pros and cons and engage all stakeholders before coming up with a decision.
If better than $100,000 can be saved, as has been suggested, a four-day week must be on the table.
From what we gather, education has not been negatively impacted in other communities that have gone with the four-day week and there seem to be positives - most notably a three-day weekend for kids, staff and families.
In a day when schools face so much competition, whether it be from neighboring districts, online options and even the community college in town, districts such as Ely must both be creative and change with the times.
As much as anyone wants to stay stubborn, remain “old school,” and insist on delivering education as it was 20 or 30 years ago, the Ely district simply cannot afford to do that at this time.
The four-day week is one tool that the district has in its toolbox that could bring significant savings.
Ignoring or dismissing use of that tool could be a costly mistake.
