UPPER DARBY, Pa. (WPVI) -- The Upper Darby School District is in the early stages of researching a four-day school week to not only retain teachers but also recruit new ones while improving classroom instruction, officials said.
"Teacher recruitment and retention is a concern," said Upper Darby Superintendent Dr. Daniel McGarry.
McGarry told Action News that they still have a lot of research to do and that no recommendations have been made.
"This is the fewest amount of teachers that we've lost in a year," McGarry said.
He said they'd like to keep that momentum going because turnover is a worry.
"You can't just continue to go and tax your community. You got to look at creative things to keep people working here," McGarry said.
McGarry added, "We're never going to be able to financially compete with wealthier school districts who by the very nature of their zip code can pay their teachers better than we can pay them."
The school board asked a committee of staff, students, and community members to find a way to be more competitive while also considering ways to improve learning while lessening impacts on families.
"The one thing we're not going to do is put our parents or our students in a bad position," McGarry said.
The committee, referred to as the Act 80 Exploration Committee, presented several scenarios to the board in August.
Three options made the cut, and then they decided to focus on researching one option that includes four days in-person, with day five as a flex day, where students would complete work at home on their own among many possibilities for that day.
Action News reporter Corey Davis asked McGarry if he supports the idea.
"I support the idea of exploring it. I have to get myself to a place to understand how we can make sure that we're doing right for all the kids and the staff," McGarry said.
Action News asked parents and guardians about how a four-day week could impact their lives.
"Would it be a three-day weekend? So now the parents are inconvenienced because they work Monday- Friday. How does that work?" asked Nicole Norman of Upper Darby.
"Four days is better," said Ala Uddin of Upper Darby, "My wife is not working. She's in the home."
"I would prefer five instead of four days," said Garmai Gray-Smith of Upper Darby.
McGarry said, "The board had a lot of questions. I want to be clear that nothing has been approved, nothing has been adopted. There'd have to be public agreement to this," McGarry said.
McGarry said it's more complicated in underfunded districts.
They'll have to look at childcare options, feeding kids who rely on school meals and additional needs for special education.
This idea is in the early stages; no recommendations have been made, officials said.
The committee will come back to the board in March with more research on what a four-day school week could look like.