By Susan Thompson | Lake Panorama Times
Panorama Community Schools serve nearly 700 students in kindergarten through 12th grade from the communities of Panora, Yale, Jamaica, Bagley and Linden, including the Lake Panorama area. At its meeting March 9, the Panorama School Board approved a proposed change to a four-day school week beginning this fall.
Kasey Huebner has been the Panorama superintendent since October 2023. In this month’s Q&A, Huebner answers questions about the change.
Q. When did discussions begin about the possibility of a four-day week at Panorama?
A. In December, we had a work session to discuss exploring a new possibility. After our discussion, we wanted to gauge the community’s opinion, so we sent out our first survey on Dec. 12, 2025. The results showed that nearly 80% of respondents were either neutral, supportive or strongly supportive of the idea. Given this positive feedback, we decided to continue the conversation and offer additional surveys. All survey results are listed on our school website at www.panoramaschools.org.
Q. What were some of the factors that made the idea of a four-day week appealing?
A. This new framework prioritizes teacher effectiveness, school culture, staff retention and student balance. We want to be clear: this initiative does not sacrifice instructional time. We aren’t doing less; we’re working smarter. By maintaining our full school year requirements while shifting our approach, we ensure both students and staff have the time required to manage their responsibilities without compromising academic rigor. We are simply evolving our schedule to give everyone the breathing room they need to excel.
Q. How will the new four-day calendar compare to what would have been a five-day calendar?
A. Our new schedule represents a thoughtful shift in how we use our time. Beginning Aug. 24, our school day will run from 8 a.m. to 3:40 p.m., compared to this year where the school day is 8:15 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.
We decided to keep a traditional five-day schedule through the end of September. There is so much energy and activity during the first few weeks of school, and our committee wanted to capture that momentum.
Starting in October, we will move into our four-day calendar with Mondays off. This strategic start allows us to protect our summer break, with the school year ending May 26 — just two days later than our previous traditional model.
Q. What impact will this change have on the amount of time teachers have for classroom preparation and professional development?
A. Moving to a four-day instructional week shifts our approach from a reactive model to a proactive one. Currently, teacher preparation and professional development are often squeezed into fragmented, 45-minute gaps or rushed after-school sessions when energy is lowest. By transitioning to this new framework, we transform that time into a strategic resource. We are replacing “the daily scramble” with dedicated, high-impact blocks for deep lesson planning, data analysis and meaningful collaboration.
Ultimately, this change honors the professional nature of teaching — providing our staff with the necessary time to refine their craft “on the clock” rather than on their weekend, which directly translates to higher quality instruction for our students. With record-low numbers of people entering the teaching profession, we aim to make it an attractive and impactful career.
Q. Do you anticipate reduced costs with a four-day school week?
A. While it is a common assumption that a four-day instructional week is a cost-saving measure, our primary driver is the quality of our educational environment. Approximately 80% of our general fund is dedicated to our most valuable resource — our staff. Because we are maintaining our full staff and competitive salary structure, our largest expenses remain constant.
We do anticipate modest operational savings in areas like transportation and utilities by running buses and facilities one less day per week; however, these savings won’t amount to much. Our true return on investment is measured in teacher effectiveness, student well-being, and our ability to recruit and retain the best educators for our students and families.
Q. Will this new schedule have an impact on extracurricular activities, student sports, weightlifting schedules, practices and competitions?
A. Because our athletic and activity schedules for the upcoming year are already established, students and families should expect very little change to games or competition dates. Regarding practices and weightlifting on non-instructional Mondays, we are currently finalizing a consistent start-time policy. Our goal is to provide a predictable routine that balances the needs of our programs with our commitment to giving families a consistent schedule.
Q. How many schools in Iowa currently are on a four-day schedule this year, and did you seek input from some of those?
A. This is a growing movement across our state. Currently, 27 Iowa districts are successfully operating on a four-day instructional model with that number expected to exceed 30 in the upcoming school year.
To ensure we are implementing the best possible version of this schedule, our leadership team conducted extensive outreach with several peer districts, including Martensdale-St. Mary’s, Saydel, Collins-Maxwell, Central Decatur and Exira. These conversations were overwhelmingly positive with administrators and families reporting high levels of success in student engagement, staff morale and overall operational efficiency.
Q. Some families count on their children getting two meals each weekday while they are in school. Is there a plan to help families in need cover that missing day?
A. I am proud to say our district is uniquely prepared for this transition. While many districts moving to a four-day model have to build support systems from scratch, our exceptional staff — led by Angie Clouser — already has robust programs in place that will support our families in need. Between our Panorama Food Bank and our Backpack Program, which sends meals directly home with students, we have the processes already in place to support our families. As we move forward, we will continue to look for innovative ways to ensure every student is supported.
Q. Is this switch to a four-day school week permanent?
A. Our calendar is evaluated and approved yearly. We will continue to monitor the success of this four-day model through student data and community feedback to ensure we are providing the highest quality educational experience possible.