*Parents in East Feliciana Parish say they were caught off guard after the local school board approved a major change to the academic calendar. The district recently shifted from a traditional five-day week to a four-day schedule, a move families say came with little warning, according to WBRZ.
The updated school schedule moves to a Tuesday-Friday week with extended class hours each day. School administrators explained that this restructured timetable aims to deliver more concentrated, effective teaching while creating opportunities for academic help sessions for struggling learners.
District officials stated the choice emerged from internal conversations about achieving strategic objectives. Administrators indicated the framework promotes comprehensive understanding, increased student participation, and prompt intervention. They also referenced comparable scheduling models in other school systems that allegedly boosted student attendance rates and strengthened the district’s ability to attract and keep teaching staff.
An anonymous district source said parents were never informed ahead of the decision, raising questions about public notice. Board members affirmed their dedication to upholding rigorous educational standards and facilitating a seamless adjustment period for the entire school community, including pupils, educators, and parents. Additional details will be available on the district’s website at efschools.net.
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Board member Michael Bradford cast the lone vote against the measure, emphasizing the need for structure and broader priorities. “I would love to hear from parents our stakeholders, parents,” Bradford said
“We have a very important tax renewal coming up in May, that should be our main focus, not a four-day schedule. This renewal is the life of our school system,” he added.
Previous attempts at implementing shortened school weeks have created doubt among certain families and school board officials. The East Feliciana Parish school system tried this approach twice before, initially during a five-year span ending in 2013, when worries emerged about lengthy daily sessions and poor academic results, then briefly revisited the concept in 2018.
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