The majority of a 30 member committee that spent over a year researching the pros and cons of a four day school week in the Newton School District has rejected the idea. Newton School Superintendent Tom Messenger says after evaluating the needs of the district against what they learned about four day school weeks, 17 committee members believe the idea should not be pursued. One committee member felt it should, while the other committee members did not submit an answer to the anonymous survey. 

“There is just really a reluctance to move towards a four day week because there is not enough evidence right now. There’s not enough reason for us to believe that would be the best way to meet the needs of our kids and best serve our families in the school District.”

When the committee began its work in January of 2024, Messenger says surveys of the committee and the public were evenly split between a traditional calendar and a four day calendar. The Newton School Superintendent talks more about the committee’s work on today’s Let’s Talk Newton.