Four-day workweek works
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Schools must continue functioning during regular work hours this summer, although students take a vacation until August.
A request by the employees of the Dallas County Schools to allow them a shorter workweek seems reasonable.
The employees approached the Dallas County School board recently and asked them to consider a four-day workweek during the summer months for clerical, bookkeeping, transportation and maintenance workers this summer.
One of the reasons cited for the request rested in the high price of gasoline.
Some of the staff travel more than 25 miles to and from work each day. This comes when motorists pay an average of $3.787 for regular gasoline.
County road workers moved over to a four-day workweek last year and have continued that scheduled as gas prices have risen. They also have consolidated jobs by scheduling work by district.
In the case of the school staff, we agree with Superintendent Fannie Major-McKenzie that the bottom line is the work will get done.
The school board hasn&8217;t voted on the issue, yet. We would hope they would give their workers a break this summer.