Pocono News Section

Southern Columbia Going to Four-Day School Week

Southern Columbia Going to Four-Day School Week - Thursday, December 18, 2008 at 6:25PM EST

COLUMBIA COUNTY- A school district covering parts of Northumberland and Columbia Counties is preparing to go to a four-day school week. Southern Columbia will go to 4-day school weeks for January and February.

The district let parents know through school board meetings, the school calendar and the district web site. And now that it's here, there are mixed reviews. Southern Columbia parent Charlotte Quintanilla said, "I don't know how they can even do this to the children. 4 days a week, I honestly don't think that's good enough"

But Sophomore Blake Nevius said, "I think it's a good idea. It's saving the school money and it's giving the kids only 4 days a week. Our teachers are good at Southern, they'll make sure they get their point across a little bit quicker."

The district will meet the state mandated class hours, because the class day is already longer than required. The 4-day school weeks are expected to save the district about $50,000 in the heart of winter.