Keota Staff, Students and Parents All Support 4-Day Week

KEOTA – During the Feb. 8 meeting of the Keota School Board, Elementary and Middle School Principal Seth Milledge read of the results of a survey the school put out to gauge interest in a new 4-day school week. The survey polled 303 and was broken down into four stakeholder groups: staff members, parents, students, and the community. All four groups strongly favored the switch to a four-day week.

Of the 47 staff members surveyed, 35 (74%) were in favor. Of the 24 community members surveyed, 17 (71%) were in favor. Of the 127 parents surveyed, 101 (80%) were in favor. Of the 105 students surveyed, 77 (73%) were in favor.

According to Milledge, 10% of the parents responded that they would need daycare services if the school switched to a four-day week. Many students and staff members requested specifics on the planned schedule. Students and Sigourney Schools asked how the shortened week would affect activities. Several teachers questioned if they would be able to get through their curriculum and raised worries that students would be affected negatively by being away from school for three day weekends instead of two. Milledge explained he was working on a fact sheet and will answer these questions at forums held at the school on Feb. 22 and 29, at 6 p.m. in the school lounge.

The board approved sending a proposal to the Washington YMCA requesting the YMCA manage a daycare located in the space currently used for preschool rooms. Milledge pointed out that the daycare will not cost the school much, because the school already has the space and pays for the utilities. Board member Jim Tinnes said the benefits far outweigh the costs. Superintendent and High School Principal Lisa Brenneman stated the daycare would be a gift to the community.

The board approved letting the booster club apply for a grant from the Washington County Riverboat Foundation to improve the softball fields. If the grant is approved, the school will pledge $10,000 to the improvements. The board approved applying for a $35,000 school bus rebate. If the school purchases a new bus before April, the rebate will cut the price down from $138,000 to $103,000. The board discussed possibly replacing one of the four 2015 model buses the school owns.