FLORESVILLE, Texas – The Floresville Independent School District has taken a big step toward shorter school weeks.
The district school board approved plans Monday night that cleared the way for the adoption of a hybrid calendar.
Blanca Martinez, a communications specialist for Floresville ISD, said the plan would go into effect later this calendar year.
Martinez said it would involve starting the new school year with five-day school weeks before moving to four-day weeks later in the semester.
“We do believe that a hybrid calendar will boost student attendance and, in turn, also boost student performance,” Martinez said. “We are really looking at this option as a recruiting tool because we do want to attract and retain quality teachers.”
Martinez said some of the details still need to be worked out, such as when the school year will begin and when it will end. She said the school board would vote on that in a meeting in March.
The opportunity to provide childcare and meals to students on the extra day off is in the talking stages.
Although students would spend one fewer day in the classroom, Martinez said the school days that are in session would be anywhere from five to 10 minutes longer in length.
Pam Smith, a retired teacher with grandchildren in Floresville, said she doesn’t think a hybrid calendar is a good idea.
“I don’t see how it is,” Smith said. “That’s just more time to either get in trouble or waste time.”
However, Nathan and Brie Smith have a different outlook. Their children attend school in La Vernia ISD, which moved to a four-day week in 2023.
“I love it,” Brie Smith said. “It’s the day that we can jam-pack with allergy appointments and pageant practices.”
Brie’s husband, Nathan, said learning doesn’t stop for their children when they are out of the classroom.
Nathan Smith said the family practices what he described as “world school,” learning from what is around them.
“So, they’re constantly being engaged. They’re learning. They don’t have time to goof off,” Nathan said.
Martinez said the hybrid calendar plan was approved in Floresville after months of discussion and public input.
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