Tahoe school to try four-day week

STATELINE -- Douglas County school trustees have approved a pilot, four-day school week for George Whittell High School at Lake Tahoe.

Under the program to be implemented this fall, students will attend school Mondays through Thursdays, and the school days will be lengthened 72 minutes. The number of days in the school year would drop from 178 to 144.

Principal Sue Shannon said the new schedule will allow teachers to cover more curriculum and avoid having to review lessons from the day before.

She added that roughly 80 percent of students participate in at least one sport, and they miss on average 35 class periods per year for extracurricular activities.

Officials say most sports activities are held on Fridays or Saturdays, so the new schedule should reduce missed classes.