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School districts nationwide have long discussed the benefits of switching to a four-day week, but one school district is making the choice for an uncommon reason.
Four-day school weeks are touted as a way to save money or to appeal to teachers in the national teacher shortage. However, for Caney Valley District Schools in Caney, Kansas, school administrators are hoping to save water with the switch.
Kansas is battling exceptional drought in 1.65 percent of the state, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor Map—the most severe drought classification by the U.S. Geological Survey. The worst of Kansas' drought is in the southern region, primarily in Elk, Montgomery and Chautauqua counties. The drought is currently so severe that Caney Valley Schools in Montgomery County are making a number of efforts to counteract their water usage, including shortening the school week, as well as installing trailer restrooms and turning off the water fountains.
The new four-day week will take effect on October 30. Students will no longer have class on Mondays.
"The school district is one of the largest consumers of water in Caney, and we feel it is our obligation to utilize all means necessary to limit water usage," Superintendent Blake Vargas told Fox 23 News.
"One of the most effective ways to do this is simply not being in the buildings," he said. "Although the district is looking at all areas to continue conserving water, we realize this is a clear way to cut consumption and help ensure our current water supply will last us until rain comes."
Newsweek reached out to Vargas via email for comment.
More than half of the district's students live outside of city limits and have a water source not provided by the city, according to Fox 23 News.
The district was providing water bottles to students after shutting off the water fountains, but Vargas said that led to increased bathroom usage. Instead, students will now receive a single serving of water from a water dispenser.
"With the dispensers, it will act as more of a single serving and will still meet students' need for hydration without causing excessive water usage with the bathrooms," Vargas told the news station.
Rain might be on the way for Caney, according to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dale Mohler.
"Over the next two weeks, the pattern is very favorable for rain, especially southeast Kansas and into central Kansas," Mohler told Newsweek. "I think they're going to get some help."
As of Wednesday, nearly 15 percent of the county is battling exceptional drought, and nearly 59 percent of the county is battling extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor Map. The drought has remained persistent in the area, as the entirety of the county has struggled with drought for more than a year.
"One change we have seen since providing individual bottles of water, is that students have increased their bathroom usage than before those bottles were readily available," Vargas said. "With the dispensers, it will act as more of a single serving and will still meet students' need for hydration without causing excessive water usage with the bathrooms."
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About the writer
Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more
