As a student from Albert Lea High School, I am concerned about the four-day school week rumors. I have seen in the newspaper that schools in Minnesota are considering this to meet their budgets.

I believe it would create more problems if Albert Lea would make the switch. Attending school for eight hours would be grueling, extra-curricular activities would cut in to classes, teachers would re-plan curriculum. I believe that the quality of education would drop for any school participating. Parents would also have to deal with work conflicts, because students will be off an extra day. Schools should reconsider their own budgets by eliminating unneeded staff, monitoring power usage, cutting pay of staff members, or even looking to the community for a referendum. Whatever it takes, the people of Albert Lea should try to keep the equality of our school district with a five-day school week.

Brooke Thompson

Albert Lea