By Rich Wicks | Times Vedette

Currently, the Panorama School District is exploring the possibility of changing to a four-day instructional week for students in all grades. There are many potential advantages and disadvantages to this plan; this article shares perspectives on each side of the issue.

In hearing from those on both sides of this issue, it is clear there is agreement that the focus must remain on providing quality education for the district’s students. The question is how to achieve that goal.

Panorama Schools’ website offers plentiful information and the reasons Panorama is considering the change. If the change is implemented as proposed, the four-day instructional week system would begin in October 2026. Classes would be held regularly on Tuesdays through Fridays. Class periods in the secondary school would increase from 43 to 55 minutes.

One of Panorama’s stated main reasons for the proposed change is teacher recruitment and retention. A four-day week could be an incentive for teachers to come to or stay teaching in the district. According to Panorama Superintendent Kasey Huebner, teachers would be expected to be present two Mondays per month. Those Mondays could be used partly for professional development for educators.

“We know that for some of our teachers, time is a precious resource. Offering two flexible Mondays a month is a powerful ‘time benefit’ that many educators value more than a slightly higher paycheck elsewhere,” Huebner said. “It’s a move that respects their quality of life, giving them the breathing room to dive into student data and prepare great lessons so they can show up and fully engage their students.”

One of the main concerns of many families regarding the proposed change is daycare. Huebner shared his perspective.

“We understand that families have questions about childcare, and we have asked this question to other districts that have implemented the four-day instructional weeks. By adopting this calendar, we would offer families more stability and consistency, reducing the disruptive schedule changes throughout the week that can complicate work and home life. By having a conversation with local daycare options, I’m confident they would be able to accommodate care on Mondays,” Huebner said. “Under the new calendar, Tuesday through Friday remains entirely consistent and predictable. While learning from a few other districts, these districts initially attempted to provide school-run care on the fifth day, but most found that those programs were underutilized and eventually discontinued them as families were able to identify their own preferred solutions. Ultimately, this change allows the district to focus on high-quality instruction while providing a more reliable schedule for the days students are in the building.”

Academic achievement is an area of concern with any proposed schedule change. The data on comparing academic achievement in five-day versus four-day settings is a mixed bag. Overall, there does not seem to be a clear trend.

Another point to clarify is that potential cost savings is not the reason Panorama is considering the schedule change. Districts that have changed to a four-day week have generally seen only very minor savings, if any.

Another concern is that some students may face food insecurity or gaps in adequate supervision, and a four-day week could increase those problems. Huebner shared how Panorama would address these issues.

“The reality is that food insecurity doesn’t take a day off, which is why we’ve already built a strong foundation to handle this as a district. We have our on-site food pantry fully stocked, and we will continue to provide weekend backpacks of food for any family that requests them. By moving to a four-day instructional week, we can actually be more intentional about ensuring those backpacks are sent home with everything a student needs for those three days away,” he said. “Regarding supervision, we’ve found that a more consistent Tuesday through Friday schedule actually helps families plan better than the old ‘early out’ days did. We would be happy to partner with any local organizations to identify supervised options for that fifth day.” 

Mary Calmer is a parent of a Panorama Schools student, and she agreed to share her thoughts on the issues involved in the proposed change to a four-day instructional week.

“I live just outside of Jamaica. I have a first grader and two younger kids who are not enrolled in school yet,” Calmer said. “The parents that I have asked at basketball games and other events, it seems like most have negative opinions about it. It’s just a huge change that’s going to affect the whole community. I think it just deserves more thought.”

Calmer does not dispute the stated goals of the proposed change but worries the downside may outweigh any benefits.

“I understand the purpose of this. They want to attract more teachers to our school district, but it’s likely going to have negative consequences that haven’t been thought of. We may see enrollment numbers decline. And if our test scores start falling compared to neighboring districts, that’s even less attractive. So, I think this is a short-sighted solution to the problem,” she said. “My husband and I would seriously consider open-enrolling out if this moves to a four-day school week.”

Calmer is concerned that childcare and related financial hardships could impact many families if the schedule changes.

“I did some research, and roughly 60% of families with children under 18 have both parents working fulltime, so that means a large part of our community is going to be impacted by this. Either one parent is going to have to stop working one day a week or maybe stop working altogether, or they’re going to have to pay for childcare for one day a week,” Calmer said.

A public hearing on the topic will be held just prior to the next regular meeting of the Panorama School Board. The hearing is set for 5:30 p.m. on Monday, March 9 at the district board room at the high school. The public is welcome.

From the Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Unseasonably warm temperatures across Iowa this February have triggered early bud development on red maples and red maple hybrids. Many trees are beginning to leaf out weeks ahead of typical leaf emergence, and colder weather is expected this weekend.

A return to freezing or near-freezing temperatures can injure newly emerging leaves that are not yet hardened. This type of cold damage is fairly common during early warm spells followed by late winter cold snaps.

“In many cases, the damage is not immediately obvious,” said Tivon Feeley, forest health program leader with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. “Symptoms often appear later in spring or early summer when affected portions of the leaf tissue dry out and fall away, leaving holes or irregular edges in the leaves.”

This condition is sometimes mistaken for insect feeding or disease, but it is simply a delayed response to cold injury that occurred earlier in the season. Although the damage may affect the appearance of the tree for a short time, it is not fatal and does not pose a long-term threat to tree health.

“Early leaf damage caused by late winter cold snaps are cosmetic and temporary,” he said. “Trees affected this spring will recover on their own as weather conditions stabilize.”

Homeowners are encouraged to monitor their trees, but there should not be a need for extra pruning, fertilization or pesticides.

Special to the Times Vedette

On Feb. 18, a total of nine players participated. Dennis Betts got a 17; Wayne Nickel got a 17 and an 18; Dick Ellis got a 17 and a 20; and Allen Pierce got an 18 and a 21.

The Guthrie Center cribbage players generally meet at Guthrie Center Library, 400 Grand St., on Mondays at 8 a.m. and at the New Homestead independent living dining hall, 2306 State St., at 8 a.m. on Wednesdays and at 1 p.m. on Fridays. Organizers say there is always room for more, and they will be glad to teach you how to play. They play for quarters on Wednesday and Friday.