Trickle down: the four-day week impact

The MACCRAY school district in west-central Minnesota took on the four-day school week to save money. So far, so good. But it’s not without impact to staff and suppliers.

Even during allegedly “flush” years, school districts have squeezed budgets. The current economic climate is going to force further cuts—so much so lately, that the four-day school week has become a discussion point. For example, the Forest Lake school district will be forced to cut about $4 million for the 2009/10 school year, and then about $2.5 million for 2010/11. A four-day school week is on the table for discussion in that and many other districts to cut transportation, utilities and foodservice costs.

Districts in Colorado and South Dakota have already made the move, and in Minnesota, one school district, MACCRAY, moved to the truncated structure for the 2008/09 school year. MACCRAY is a consolidation of three communities in west-central Minnesota: Maynard, Clara City, & Raymond.

“Our school day went from 172 days to 149,” said District Superintendent Greg Schmidt. The district takes Monday off, the remaining school days are extended by 65 minutes—eight minutes per class. The move will save the district an estimated $85,000 during the school year.

On the surface, the adjustment hasn’t been too strenuous, and the foodservice operations across the district’s three schools adapted quickly. Lunch times at the schools were adjusted slightly, as was breakfast at the elementary schools to keep the meals spread appropriately, Schmidt added. Fruit snacks are also sold between the seventh and eighth periods—roughly the time students were to go home with the old schedule.

One concern was the 23 fewer days that elementary students would be served free breakfast, Schmidt said. “We hope there aren’t a bunch of kids that aren’t being fed breakfast just because they aren’t in school those days,” he said. But, he added, when the plan was put forward, no parents expressed concern.

Those that felt the impact of the four-day week schedule were the foodservice workers. “The hard thing was is…they’re being paid one day less per week, approximately,” Schmidt said.

“It definitely does have an impact on us personally,” said Linda Rhode, the head cook at the junior and senior high school, adding that the entire kitchen staff is paid hourly. “But as far as the job, we can order (supplies) and make things work.”

Menus and ordering were adjusted to accommodate the subtraction of one serving day, and the transition was otherwise smooth—and the kitchens didn’t lose any workers despite the cut in hours. “We’ve adjusted, as we needed to do, and it’s OK,” she said. “We kind of miss that fifth day, and I know our salesmen do, because we order less food.”

If the district saves money and the schedule doesn’t harm the students’ education, that’s the “bottom line,” Rhode said. “But if they find in testing that they’re going backwards or not keeping up, then they’re going to have to look at that again.”

But, so far, so good. The eight minutes added to each class appear to allow for more exploration for the districts 710 students, Schmidt said. “That doesn’t seem like much, but if you’re doing a lab, for example, and you have to get equipment out, or shop class, or things where there are hands-on activities and take things off shelves and put them on the work stations, sometimes that eight minutes is about all you need to have a little more quality time.”

—Mike Mitchelson.

MSNA strategic goals highlights for 2009

Minnesota School Nutrition Association board members are working on the following goals:

Goal I: Improve communication to and from members.

A Scholarship/Awards Survey was developed and distributed in early December 2008. A Member’s Communication Survey was developed and distributed in January 2009. In order to get representative feedback from members without access to e-mail, hard copies will be distributed by chapter liaisons to some members in their areas. These surveys will be entered manually. Results will be reviewed in January.

Further, a committee has established the framework for a new publication that will replace the Processor. An editorial calendar has been created, and stories will be gathered by an outside writer/editor. Look for the first issue in January, 2009.

Goal II: Membership will be increased at the out-state cook manager, supervisor and director level.

Through the Extreme Cafeteria Makeover partnership, MSNA included a letter of introduction and membership brochure in the mailing that went to all business managers and/or superintendents in Minnesota. Feedback suggests that information about our association does not always make it to the cafeteria manager/supervisor/director.

A feasibility study will soon be underway to test a peer-review concept aimed at expanding services and partnership with Minnesota-based school food service operations. The concept is an assessment of an operation’s strengths, weakness, gaps and areas for improvement in a number of key areas. The study will include focus groups with business managers and FSDs.

Goal III: Provide training around current crisis: SNP revenue is not keeping pace with rising costs.

The new MSNA publication will include tips from members around the state. Check our Web site often for new links to training opportunities, Webinars and media stories. Later this year, a members-only section of the Web site will include useful information such as procedures and recipes that members can “borrow.”

Goal IV: Make an impact on childhood hunger.

$4,600 has been raised through our World of Hope: One Potluck at a Time. We’ve heard great stories from members and want to share them with others. Please go to the Web site to learn how. Members have expressed an interest in having a local charity or charities added to this program. The committee will be looking into possibilities.

Goal V: Provide strong support to SNA reauthorization efforts and seek state funding.

The Public Policy Committee has expanded membership to include allied partners. In turn, this committee is looking at ways to partner with allied groups with similar missions.

A legislative conference will be held in Saint Paul on the evening of March 11 and March 12, 2009. Watch for registration information. As this is a reauthorization year for Child Nutrition, please consider attending the SNA Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. this year. If you are a “newbie” you will be taken under our MSNA wings for this once-in-a-life experience. SNA hopes for 1,000 strong to be in attendance!

All of this work would not be possible without the hard work of our members, MSNA committee members, supportive industry partners, and of course, our talented administrative coordinator, Sharon Maus.

If you have questions or want more detail, check out the Strategic Plan which is posted on the Web site, or contact any one of the Board members or Sharon Maus.

—Jean Ronnei, president, MSNA