Take THAT, voters. We’re closing your schools 1 day a week because you voted against the tax hike . . .

The Iron County Utah school district has something to say: they're going to a 4-day work week because voters didn’t approve $3 million in new taxes.

$3 million may not sound like a lot, but it’s an increase of 10% over 2025. And in 2025 the school district overspent by another 10% without prior approval. Does this help explain why Utah voters are cheesed? See links below.

The population change in Iron County has averaged 2.5% for the past several decades, and it was 2.5% again in 2025. So nobody can claim a bunch of parents migrated from California, and local Utah schools need a big cash infusion to deal with that.

75% of the Iron County school budget is salaries and benefits. I don’t know how this compares to your town, but it seems in the zone. The numbers suggest that Iron County teachers will be getting 10% more salary and benefits in 2026, despite a stable student enrollment. And got 10% more the prior year . . . .

Okay, back to the 4-day school week. How exactly how does this save money? Are there going to be 10% fewer teachers? The same staffing, but teachers get paid 10% less because they have 3 day weekends all the time? The school board is blackmailing parents with the threat of school closures, and has some ‘splaining to do, on their math.

If actually happens – a 4 day school week – it means parents will have to pay for private childcare on those cancelled days. Shifting education costs away from the schools directly to the parents. In the case of middle school and higher students, I suppose the presumption is that they will simply roam the streets or play videogames at home all day.

Please let me correct any misimpression I may be giving that the Iron County Utah school district is bad at whatever it is they’re up to. A 4-day school week may sound insane, but it’s probably a more evolved tax heist than simply threatening to fire a bunch of favorite teachers. That’s the scheme which lots of other school districts try to pull . . .

I’m just sayin’ . . .

Denied its $2.8M tax hike, a Utah district considers four-day school week to save money

Notable items included in the FY2025 Amended and FY2026 Preliminary Budget

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samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

Often what a 4 day work week means is more hours worked per day, so the work week is still 37.5 or 40 hours per week. The school does save on institutional costs, but not salaries and benefits.

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@samueltyler2 ok, but what institutional costs go down? electricity and heat on Fridays, when the school is no longer open? It's hard to believe you can save 10% of your school budget just by turning the electricity off one day a week, when 75% of your costs are salary and benefits.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@SusanInFlorida it is more than just heat and lighting, it is housekeeping, cost of opening and closing. I don't know exactly how much you might save, a lot depends on time of your, local weather, etc. but there is demonstrable savings however much.

To reply to another of your comments that have no reply button, the answer is a definite yes, if enrollment in schools decreases we have consolidated and closed schools, sold off the buildings. Yes, we have excesses teachers And administrators. .

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@samueltyler2 there are vast numbers of school break-ins here, during the summer break. because kids are unsupervised. i imgaine that will happen on Friday's too, when schools implement a 3 day weekend.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@SusanInFlorida so you are suggesting full year schooling not to enhance education, but to prevent break ins? Do you think of school only sad day care for kids? I actually would be interested in the statistics backing up your claim. What are the breakins for? Is there enough left in schools during the summer to steal?

SusanInFlorida · 31-35, F

@samueltyler2 i am suggesting 12 month public school education. there is no reason for kids to have 3 months off. we're not a subsistence agrarian society who depends on children to work the fields.

samueltyler2 · 80-89, M

@SusanInFlorida i am not necessarily against it, but then you have to pay the teachers, and ancillary staff for all 12 Months. You also may not be aware of the summer camp industry that would then be out of business.