Glades County Schools forego 4-day week plans for 2025-26 school year

The Glades County School District decided to maintain a five-day school week after receiving a strong recommendation from the Florida Commissioner of Education.

 

The decision came after a letter warned against transitioning to a four-day school week.

 

"If you persist in this effort to implement a four-day school week… I will convene an emergency meeting of the State Board of Education," Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said in a letter on May 9 to Glades County School District superintendent Dr. Alice Barfield.

 

Diaz sent a similar letter to the Franklin County School District superintendent on the same day.

 

Both districts were considering a four-day school week as a potential solution poor teacher recruitment. 

 

"We're the second smallest school district in the state of Florida, and we have a real need to get certified teachers here," said Superintendent Steve Lanier of Franklin County.

 

Superintendent Alice Beth Barfield of Glades County echoed similar sentiments. 

 

"It's very difficult to recruit teachers to a county that doesn't even have a grocery store," she said.

 

Lanier noted, "We thought that the four-day school week was a positive thing. We believe that it would bring teachers in to the county."

 

The proposal received positive feedback from parents and teachers in both counties. In Glades County, a survey indicated that around 60% of parents supported the change.

 

"I think that our community has spoken, said Barfield. "This is something they're very interested in."

 

Franklin County saw even higher support.

 

"We really had about 80% positivity as far as the local people who live here wanted to do it," said Lanier.

 

However, letters from Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. expressing "great concerns" about academic achievement and student support led both districts to reconsider.

 

"I was disappointed with the content of the letter, because, you know, obviously I wanted it to say 'congratulations on being innovative,'" she said. "But at the same time, I understand his stance on it, and you know that is my job as superintenden to follow the lead of those that are in those positions in Tallahassee."

 

Despite the setback, Lanier acknowledged the value of the discourse. "Are we disappointed? Yes, we're disappointed. But at the same time, we also have to realize that, you know, our efforts haven't gone unnoticed," he said.

 

Barfield added, "Any time that there can be a conversation about education, it's a good thing."