Daley says four-day school week a bad idea

CHICAGO | Illinois students could face a full school year of three-day weekends under state legislation that would allow some school districts to hold class only four days a week.

Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, said his bill would require schools that drop a day of instruction to offer longer hours the other four days. Districts would have to hold a hearing and survive scrutiny before putting the plan in place.

Some lawmakers say that schools faced with mounting bills and cut budgets could save money on utilities and diesel fuel if they only had to power lights and run buses four days a week.

"Diesel fuel prices are eating them alive," said state Rep. Pat Verschoore, D-Milan.

However, the mayor of the city with the largest school system in the state thinks the bill is just a bad idea.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley said closing the schools one weekday would put a tremendous burden on working parents -- single parents in particular. He said it would force them to find day care for their kids or take time off from work.

Daley says, before such a thing is even considered, lawmakers should look for other ways to save money. He suggested having state workers take unpaid furlough days, a system that's been implemented in Chicago for city workers.

Daley is not alone in his criticism. Some in the House wondered why schools wouldn’t cut the salaries of teachers and other staff to save money instead.

Other opponents said parents might have a hard time arranging for care for their children on the one day school doesn’t meet.

State Rep. Roger Eddy, a Hutsonville Republican and school superintendent, said it would be a matter of planning.

"I think the key would be to know the calendar ahead of time," Eddy said.

The legislation wouldn’t force schools to hold four day weeks, and it now moves to the Senate for further debate.

The measure passed 81-21 on Monday. It now goes to the Illinois Senate.

The Associated Press and the Lee Springfield Bureau contributed to this report.