Schools Superintendent Joshua Garrett is urging a shift in the district’s budget conversations — away from cutting and toward adding.
Following a school board long-term budget work session Monday, Sept. 29, Garrett laid out a philosophy centered on maximizing instructional time and exploring new revenue streams rather than trimming programs.
“At this point, we know what works and what doesn’t work,” Garrett said. “I think the question we should be asking is: ‘What are we doing with the time that we have? Are we maximizing the time that we have?’”
His comments came as board members discussed the possibility of moving to a four-day school week to save money. Garrett questioned whether the financial benefit would justify the trade-offs.
“As an educator, this is my least favorite option,” he said. “I already think the school day is too long. Shortening the week and making each day longer isn’t a good idea.”
He also raised concerns about student well-being if the week was shortened.
“For some of our students here, this may be the healthiest environment they will experience throughout the week,” he said. “If we shorten that and remove part of that, how will that affect them? If it will have any possible negative impact, that gives me pause.”
Garrett said his priority is to preserve and improve classroom time while broadening opportunities for students.
“We have a public service to this community and we need to provide opportunities for growth and learning,” he said. “I think part of that is doing what we can with the time that we have to prepare these students for life. Taking tests shouldn’t be what school is all about.”
He said he plans to invite public input in a community forum — which he said should feel more like a conversation — and to solicit ideas about what residents want from their schools.
“This is their school, too,” he said. “We need to be sure we’re doing what works best, and not just doing something because it’s what we’ve always done.”
On the budget front, Garrett argued that looking only for cuts can erode quality over time. He called the search for new revenue “a worthwhile goal,” adding, “If we just keep looking for things to cut, that will be our mindset. You can only cut so much before you hurt the learning experience for the kids.”
The school district has drawn on its declining reserves for several years to balance its budget.