Winslow Unified School District officials are considering a move to a modified four-day school week, a change district leaders say could help improve student outcomes, better support teachers and keep the district competitive with nearby schools already operating under similar schedules.
The discussion dominated the March 25, governing board meeting and centered on two potential models: a full four-day week with no classes on Fridays, or a “modified five” approach that keeps Fridays open for academic intervention. Administrators strongly favored the modified model, saying it would allow struggling students to receive additional support while also giving teachers structured time for collaboration and planning.
Winslow High School Vice Principal Kourtney Hendricks research and presented to the board. “If I was going to advocate for a program, I would definitely advocate for the modified five schedule, not the full four-day week,” Hendricks told the board, explaining that Fridays could be used for response-to-intervention programs while staff remain on duty.
Under the proposed model, students would attend classes Monday through Thursday, while Fridays would be reserved for targeted support. Students with failing grades, those needing to make up work and athletes who missed class time due to competition would be required to attend. “All D and F students would attend,” Hendricks said, adding that the goal would be to mandate Friday attendance for athletes and students needing remediation while allowing others the day off. The district already exceeds the state’s required instructional hours, administrators said, meaning a reduction in school days would not reduce funding. “We would still reach 1008 hours of instructional seat time,” Hendricks explained, noting that the state requirement is 720 hours at the high school level.
A major driver behind the proposal is the district’s ongoing difficulty establishing a consistent and effective intervention system. The change could also help the district compete for staff. Neighboring districts such as Joseph City, Snowflake and Round Valley have already moved to four-day or modified schedules.
“Snowflake has honestly perfected the modified five.” However, she acknowledged that success varies by community, adding, “Snowflake has a completely different dynamic,” and cautioning that what works in one district may not automatically translate to another.
Last summer when Superintendent Dr. Amber Martinez had first stepped into a role, she held a public meeting and invited members of the public to speak on how to make the district better. Winslow has faced more and more students choosing alternative options most notably going out of district to the Joseph City School District and many parents cited the four-day week as a main reason for their decision.
Board members expressed interest in the proposal but raised several concerns, including childcare challenges for parents, access to meals on Fridays and how to ensure students attend when attendance is not officially counted for funding purposes. While attendance would not impact state funding, administrators said they could still track participation and make attendance expectations part of district policy. The board did not take formal action but agreed to continue studying the proposal, potentially seeking community input before moving forward.
The board also received an update on the district’s food service program, which has seen a significant financial turnaround over the past year. Food service director Daisy Caldera reported that food service revenue has grown from about $57,000 last year to roughly $245,000 this year. The increase was attributed to careful management of labor and food costs, as well as additional income from à la carte sales and limited catering.
Caldera noted that about $2,000 a month comes from à la carte sales and roughly $3,000 a month from catering and other services. However, she acknowledged that rising food prices have made catering more difficult, as customers often find cheaper options elsewhere.
The food service department has also launched several student-focused initiatives, including a “roving chef” program that gives students hands-on experience preparing food and a farmers market program designed to introduce students to fruits and vegetables they might not otherwise try. Officials said students responded positively to both programs but acknowledged ongoing challenges with participation in breakfast and lunch programs at certain schools. Attempts to boost participation through breakfast carts, hot chocolate promotions and incentives such as prize giveaways have produced short-term gains but have not led to sustained increases. Despite those challenges, officials said the program is financially stronger than in previous years and will continue to explore new ways to increase student participation while maintaining financial stability.
In other business, the board:
* Accepted a $3,000 donation from the Clear Creek Cowboys for use by the elementary schools.
* Approved RestorePro as the sole source provider for asbestos abatement and damage caused by a severe rainstorm at a cost of $250,000.
* Approved the following resignations: Chrstina Begay, fourth grade teacher; Rita Yazzie, special education teacher; Tres Cake, alternative education teacher; Lavinia Cody, district counselor; Secilee Hughes, paraprofessional and Alicia Vigil-O’Haco paraprofessional.
* Approved retire-return to work for Felicia Breeze, a second grade teacher and Eleo Petet, custodian.
*Approved an intergovernmental agreement with Vail Unified School District for access to the Beyond Textbook program. The cost is $5,000 fee and $11 per student that uses the program.
* Approved volunteer Ricardo Villanueva Sr., for junior high track and George Joe for Jefferson Elementary School volunteer.
* Approved extra duty pay for Stephanie Lymer and Gina Williams.
