The Blackduck School Board has voted to switch to a four-day week for  the 2009-10 school year. At the end of the one-year test, district residents will vote whether to keep the shortened week or go back to five-day school weeks, said Molly Miron in the Bemidji Pioneer.

During the trial year, each of the four school days will be longer than the current school day, which runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.

The current plan calls for elementary students to have class from 8:15 a.m. to 4:10 p.m. and high school students would be in class from 8:25 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. Although the day off is still under discussion, Monday is favored as the off day because of fewer after-school activities on Mondays.

Officials say money saved by the change -- including decreased transportation costs, fuel, cooks, janitors, food and substitute teachers -- will help the school district balance its budget without cutting any more teachers or staff, eliminating high school electives or increasing elementary school class sizes.

School officials said about 100 schools nationwide have adopted a four-day week, including MACCRAY, which is the consolidated district for Maynard, Clara City and Raymond, Minn. MACCRAY is in its first year of four-day school weeks and plans to continue with the shortened weeks next school year.