Letters and comments for June 13

Coen

Consider four-day week

To the Editor:

I am a junior at La Grande High School, and although the impact of the recent defeat of La Grande’s local option won’t affect me much, it will affect several hundred other current students and

students-to-be.

As the school system and board members try and figure out ways to make ends meet, I only have one question: Why not do what every other district in Union, Baker and Wallowa counties has done and adopt a four-day school week? It will help save money.

Again I am a student, and I hear opinions on both sides of the topic. To be honest, there seems to be more pros than cons. Schools including Cove, Union, Elgin and North Powder are already on a four-day school week; even Baker City will be on a four-day school week next year.

I am in favor of the four-day school week, not only because of the three-day weekends, but because it would save on electricity, gas, water, sewer and food costs. I know some employees are against the four-day week because those who work hourly feel they will lose wages. But if we start a half-hour earlier and stay a bit longer in the afternoon, wages won’t change too much, and money would be saved.

It seems to me that it would be easier to go to a four-day school week rather than having to decide which sport or extracurricular activities to cut. Also, sports would have more games on Fridays and Saturdays, and students wouldn’t miss as many classes or have to leave class early as often to travel.

I think there should be more thought and consideration given to implementing a four-day school week.

Sam Coen

La Grande