Florida School Saves Energy, Cash With 4 Day Week
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY 
on 08.13.08
When we recently pointed out that some school districts were eyeing a four day school week as a way to cut costs and save energy there were some who thought the whole idea was just too outlandish to pull off. And at the K-12 level it just may be; but when faced with huge cuts in state aid the officials at Brevard Community College in Dayton Beach, Florida took the plunge and the students and staff members are reaping enormous benefits.
But what benefits are they now enjoying?
Benefits of Four Day Work Week
Well how about considering the huge bump in morale on campus to go along with the $267,000 they saved from turning down the heating and cooling systems along with other cost efficiencies of a four day week in just the last year?
And the evidence for the improved staff morale is clear; with absenteeism down 44% and applications for staff positions up 50%, they’re also finding they have the pick of the crop when it comes to potential new employees.
Of course students are seeing the benefits as well, cutting their gas bill with just one less trip to school and using that time in a myriad of different ways. A fact that also could lessen their personal carbon footprint along with the college itself depending on what they choose to do with the extra day.
Oh yes, and that $267,000 they saved in part by making their school campus more energy efficient? It’s been put back into 10 new teaching positions to help drive learning on campus. Now who can beat that?
Via: Tipster Claire, CNN Video
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I don't get it? Yes, it saves the campus money and energy but does it really save energy? Instead of twenty or so students in one room sharing electricity (on that fifth day); you now have twenty students at home individually using energy and wasting by themselves. This just gives a campus a way to say "Yay, we saved" but they’re not going green for the environment but rather greening up the wallets.
Awesome! As a K-12 teacher, I don't see how a 4 day work-week would work, but colleges and businesses, absolutely. I hope they keep some data on grades too (I'm hoping they improve because students will use that extra "day off" to study and finish assignments better.)
Fantastic! Just think of the greatness if this was carried over to the work week and stores. If stores were not open 1 day a week, there would be huge cost savings. Consumers would most likely still buy the same amount on the other days of the week and stay home with their families when everything was closed.
Did it result in any concrete savings to students outside of the environmental savings? Tuition? Fees?
Students of course will now be able to work 3 full days a week instead of just 2, so it may help pay the tuition.
Not too surprised that CNN got the facts wrong, but Daytona Beach is not in Brevard County. It's in Volusia County and is host to Daytona Beach Community College and Volusia Community College. Brevard Community College campuses are in Melbourne, Cocoa and Palm Bay.
No comments? hm.
I wish my campus would do such a thing. I don't know what the savings could be, but after reading the annual budget, there is a lot of room for improvement. Plus the 3 day weekend would leave more room for winter snow activities; 3 ski resorts make it hard to take classes on fridays!
Great, now only if other schools and businesses will move to the 4 day week.
I think that a 4 day school week is absoulutely ridiculous!! That you could actually benefit from keeping a kindergartner in school for 10 hours is crazy!! They would be overtired by the time they got home and would have no play time before dinner and bed!! When they get a job in the world a 4 day week is great but not to jepordize their learning so the politicians get richer!! Where is the money from the florida lottery? This is the worst idea they have come up with yet!!
I think this is a great idea! Yes, it saves energy. Yes, it saves money. How is this not a good idea? Saving money, energy, plus you get a 3-day-weekend every weekend! How is this not a great idea? Kids might actually like school better. I definitely think this is a great idea for Volusia County Schools.
Really a four day week . Kids in the US school system are already falling behind children from other countries when it comes to education, do they really think a four day week is going to help these children. And forget all that....what's happend to ALL the money the Florida School Systems recieve from the State Lottory? What have they done with that?????