WINFIELD-MOUNT UNION, Iowa (KWQC) – An Iowa school district is preparing for a big test: implementing a four-day school week.

The small Winfield-Mount Union Community School District, about 70 miles southwest of the Quad Cities, has about 320 students enrolled.

Elementary school principal Karinda Wahls said the community is behind it. It started in 2023 with a simple question in a community survey: Would this be something you would be interested in?

The responses gave the district enough confidence to call meetings and form committees to study the problem further.

Wahls and high school principal Gaige Gill said the district is slowly acclimating the community to a four-day week — there will be a regular schedule for the first month before switching to a four-day week.

Districts that switch to shorter school weeks typically cite cost savings, improved student achievement and attendance rates, and teacher recruitment and retention.

Wahls and Gill said they hope the four-day week will primarily increase the number of teachers.

They’ve already seen results. Wahls said they recently filled an apprenticeship position and now have more choice.

Normally they receive two or three applications. This time they received ten.

Wahls and Gill also said the mental health of students and teachers was a factor in the change.

They said a three-day weekend would give students time to recharge, and teachers would have all of Monday to review data and student progress, learn from other educators, and have more time to plan the week.

Wahls said educators are excited about the changes.

Teachers will begin preparing their classrooms next week to prepare them for the return of students.

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