The state budget crisis began affecting Gore Schools nearly seven months ago. In search of money-saving solutions the school went to four days instead of five. Now school officials are changing their minds.

When the school went to four days a week, classroom hours increased—jumping from 8 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 4:35 p.m.

“The hour and a half longer for class is not cutting it,” Gore School Superintendent Monte Thompson said. “This is not working for us, the students are in school all day long. I don’t see the positive in that.”

Thompson said he feels like the students’ education is at risk. Thompson decided that it would be best to return to the traditional, five-day week next year. So during a recent board meeting, the school board voted to make the change, and they will cut administrative positions to save money instead.

The four-day week was adopted under former Superintendent Keith Kincade. Kincade previously said that by eliminating that fifth school day it would save the district $350,000. Thompson discovered that was not the case.

“The four-day cut was saving the district about $35,000,” Thompson said. “But we felt like it was hindering the students’ education.”

Thompson said he believes the traditional five days a week would be easier for students and parents. He said besides the longer hours not panning out, the school staff and parents have agreed that the school needs the flexibility that is associated with the traditional school week.

Thompson said with the 1,080 hours that Gore Schools took on, it depleted the flexibility of the traditional 180 days. He explained that going to school for 180 days leaves room for makeup days in case of bad weather or other events. The 180-day school year leaves five professional development days and a total of 173 days of teaching with two parent-teacher conference days.

Since the days will go back to 5—Thompson said the school is looking for other ways to save money, so the school board voted they will cut administrative positions to save money.

State funding is still on the decline. Thompson said he heard during superintendent meetings that on the legislative level, schools should prepare for a 10 percent cut. Schools have already felt a 7 percent cut from state money.

“We have to prepare for next year now,” Thompson said.

State legislators cut the flexible benefit allowance which helps fund insurance for school employees. Thompson said the school is still mandated to pay for the certified and non-certified staff’s insurance.

“Legislators voted a long time ago that employee insurance be paid by the school. Insurance premiums keep increasing for school employees, and this unfunded mandate is something we have to take out of our budget,” Thompson said.

Thompson said there is a bright side. He said he opened a letter Tuesday from the State School Land Commission that explained that the school might be getting more money coming to them for the mineral rights that are attached to the land owned by the school. He said he is also hoping that this month’s ad valorem taxes are a little higher.

“That’s a positive!” Thompson said.

When addressing possible staff cuts, Thompson explained there would be no decisions right now on who will be cut. He said anytime jobs have to be cut, it’s a difficult decision.

“School’s in session right now. I don’t want our decisions to interfere with the students’ education and I feel if we worried about who will not have a job or where the cuts will take place, the students’ education may be affected.

“After the conclusion of the year we will have ample time to make well— thought-out decisions in order for the best decisions to be made,” Thompson said.