Four-day focus
Every school day at Turtle Lake - Mercer Public School, Superintendent Sheila Schlafmann stands in the foyer, greeting arrivals with a smile.
The routine comes as the district reflects on its first semester on a four-day school week, 66 days in. To compensate for the shortened week, students now attend classes for longer hours, ensuring the district meets all state-required instruction time. The change has drawn attention from families, staff, and other districts across North Dakota.
“I stand here each morning,” Schlafmann said.
When asked how the schedule is going, she added, “We love it.”
Principal Kurt Ziebarth agreed.
“We have had overwhelmingly positive feedback,” he said.
It’s not simply anecdotal. A recent parent and family survey showed 66.7 percent of respondents support the four-day week. However, while 7.2 percent were not in favor, 75 percent indicated they would continue with the schedule. The remaining respondents indicated they were neutral or undecided about the shift.