Pocatello-Chubbuck rejects 4-day week, semester schedule change

POCATELLO — (IdahoEdNews.org) Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25 will stick with a five-day school week and trimester schedule after trustees unanimously rejected proposals to adopt a four-day week and semesters.

The vote happened at a board meeting Tuesday and follows months of consideration that fleshed out trustees’ preferences for keeping the district’s schedules intact.

Trustees discussed a possible change to how the district uses Fridays, but the board took no action. Two trustees proposed exploring different hybrid models, but neither motion received a second.

“We have a consensus that we certainly do want to look at the options,” said Board Chair Raymond Knoff. “It probably is too late for us to do that this year.”

The change to a four-day week would have made Pocatello-Chubbuck one of the largest districts in Idaho to adopt the model. The similarly sized Nampa district made the switch two years ago.

Pocatello-Chubbuck trustees each had their own concerns with the change.

Trustee Megan Furniss cited concerns about a lack of input from the district’s families who qualify for free- and reduced-price lunch.

Trustee Bill Osborn simply wanted to stay in line with most school districts in the country.

“If it was such a good idea, why haven’t more school districts in the past five decades gone after it?” asked Osborn, echoing his statements at a recent meeting.

Finances weren’t part of the five-day week or hybrid discussions.

“In my opinion, it shouldn’t be part of the conversation,” said district business manager Jonathan Balls, “just because there’s a lot bigger factors out there than the finances.”

This article was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on Oct. 23, 2026.