FINLEY, Wash. – The Finley School District is making a significant shift to a four-day school week starting soon. This change comes after a levy vote earlier this year resulted in a budget deficit of roughly $1 million.
Superintendent Bryan Long explained the financial challenge led to discussions with staff, and the idea of a four-day school week emerged as a potential solution. He said, “We knew that it was going to cause a shortfall of about $1 million in our system.”
Last week, the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction approved the district’s proposal, making the new schedule official starting in the 2025/26 school year. Students will attend class Monday through Thursday, with Fridays off.
Long expressed hopes for improved student attendance with the new schedule. “Biggest impacts I’m hoping to see in our school system on a four-day school week is our, is our data on attendance? We live in a community where a lot of students miss a lot of school days,” he stated. He added, “I’m really hoping that under a four-day school week, we’ll find more of a perseverance to be able to get to school.”
The change is expected to save the district about $200,000. Long hopes the extra day off will increase students’ anticipation to return to school. “It’s an opportunity for us to see how creative and exciting school can be,” he said. “I’m excited that Finley is going to be one of the leading districts and hope to have positive outcomes.”
The total number of school days will decrease from 180 to 153, with each day slightly longer to meet state-required instructional hours. The changes will be evaluated over the next year to determine if the new schedule will remain.
For more information on the changes, visit Finley School District’s website.
