A trio of schools in the KCII listening get back to class on Friday to start the new school year and will do so with a new schedule. Highland, Winfield-Mt. Union and Keota will all use a base four day school week for the first time in the 2024-25 year. WMU made the decision in January of 2024, while Keota approved the change in March and Highland did so in April. Recently, Highland and WACO Superintendent Ken Crawford talked with KCII News about the adjustment at the Highland district.

Crawford says, “(At Highland) our building leadership team is meeting with principals, principals are meeting with me, the Superintendent, so everyone is prepping for that first day when all of the kids come back on the 23rd. You ramp up from administrative meetings, to new teachers meetings, then everyone comes back, and then it is full on go! It’s just a slow ramp and then all of a sudden boom! You’re gone! Off and running. I think with the four day week, while they’re used to it at WACO, at Highland it will take just a couple of weeks and everyone will be right into a rhythm for it as well. We are excited to have students back in the building!”

These three districts join WACO, who has been on a four day calendar for nearly a decade. Lone Tree and Columbus voted down changing to a four-day week. The first day of school at Highland, Winfield-Mt. Union and Keota is Friday, August 23rd.