BLAIR, Wis. (WEAU) – A local school district could be the first in Wisconsin to make a big switch. Parents, teachers and administrators in the Blair-Taylor School District met Sunday to talk about the possibility of a four-day school week.

“The teacher attendance improves, student absentee rates decrease,” says Dr. Don Kordosky, superintendent of Oakridge Schools in Oregon State.

Since his district went to the four-day schedule, he’s been spreading the word across the country on its pros and cons.

“You have increased vitality, you have less discipline and academic achievement either improves or stays the same,” says Kordosky.

He says making the switch can save the district about five to seven percent of its budget.

Blair-Taylor superintendent Dennis Dervetski says it’s all about improving the learning environment by allowed 45 extra minutes of instructional time.

“There will be some savings of course. The main focus is basically the learning staff and development and reallocating money saved and put that back into teachers, students and community learners,” says Dervetski.

One concern among parents is the length of the school day for their kids.

“I have a kindergarten-aged student. She gets tired as it is after a five day week. I can't imagine extending the day,” says Sarah Halverson.

Parent and teacher Jean Stenberg says she’s glad people want to learn more about the proposal.

“In Blair-Taylor, our school is the integral part of our community. So many things wrap around our school district,” says Stenberg.

Dervetski says the switch could happen as early as this fall.

“The board would make a decision whether to proceed or not to Madison for the final plan,” says Dervetski.

Two public hearings are schedule for Sunday, February 26th. The first one is at 4 p.m. at the Blair-Taylor 7-12 commons. The second is at 7 p.m. at the Tayor Community Center.

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(WEAU) -- An area school district could be first in the state to get a four day school week.

The Blair-Taylor School District is holding a community question and answer session Sunday at 1 p.m. in the Blair-Taylor Middle/High School gym.

This is a chance for parents and community members to talk about the possibility of having a four day school week.