4-Day School Week Overwhelmingly Wins Support in Raton

By Marty Mayfield

KRTN Multi-Media

Raton Public Schools held a special meeting on Thursday April 30, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss a 4-day school week for the district’s 2026-2027 school year.

The district received 705 responses to the survey about going to a 4-day week. The overwhelming response, just over 86%, was for a 4-day school week. 71% voted for the Monday through Thursday school week, with 15% going with a Tuesday through Friday week and 13.6% had no preference.

Concerns about going to a 4-day week included childcare and how long of a day it would be for students and Friday meals. Many respondents looked forward to the Friday off for sports and medical appointments. Other pros for the 4-day week included more family time as well.

Board member Dustin Walton noted that only two people he talked to disagreed with the idea of a 4-day week. Board member Ted Kamp feels this is a move to try to increase attendance and have fewer absentees with both students and staff and work to have more medical appointments moved to the Friday off. MCMC CEO Brian Cotter spoke with Board President Jason Phillips and noted he is trying to recruit more medical staff and is willing to work with the schedule to meet the needs of students for medical appointments.

Superintendent Kristi Medina noted that the special ed students and paperwork will require the most work to meet the reduced week. The district is fully prepared to meet the budget deadline of May 12 with this change.

The schedule will be a work in progress this school year to determine how well what works to make this schedule meet the student needs as well as help teachers meet their needs to properly teach students. Several ideas were thrown around to cover meals and keeping students occupied during the Friday off.

Brock Walton noted that district games are played on Thursday and Saturday and with Friday being a no school day it will be easier to schedule some of the more far-reaching games on Thursday since players won’t have to be in school on Friday morning.