Jasper ISD board approves 4-day school week

JASPER, Texas (KTRE) - During their meeting Tuesday, the Jasper ISD Board of Trustees voted to approve the 2022-23 academic calendar, which includes moving to a four-day school week.

According to a post on the Jasper ISD Facebook page, the board members voted unanimously in favor of the four-day school week. The calendar development process started in November, and it included four district-wide Educational Improvement Council meetings.

The length of the school day was not extended, and the academic calendar includes the required 75,600 minutes, plus five bonus school days of student instructional time.

“On Fridays that teachers come in, they will be able to have PLCs and professional development without missing class time,” the Facebook post stated.

The input for the new academic calendar was gathered from all staff members and the community through surveys, the Facebook posts stated.

The first survey, which was community-wide, was e-mailed to all parents and staff and placed on the school district’s social media pages. Sixty-four percent of the 438 people who responded said they were in favor of the four-day week, the Facebook post stated. A second survey was sent to all JISD teachers, and 84 percent of them were in favor of the change.

“We thank the DEIC, the JISD Board of Trustees, and all who participated in the development of the calendar for their hard work,” the Facebook post stated.

At the meeting, the Jasper ISD Board of Trustees also unanimously voted to give teachers and staff “retention incentives” for the 2022-23 school year. Teachers will receive $3,000 and all other staff will receive $1,500, and the installments will be paid in three installments, the Facebook post stated.

“The Board was very excited to be able to strategically use ESSER grant funds to help teachers and staff who have worked so hard to get our students the education they need while facing countless challenges,” the Facebook post stated. “Retaining and recruiting quality teachers is very important to all school districts during a nationwide teacher shortage, and the board of trustees is working diligently for our JISD staff.”

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