The Yuma schools will begin full-time four-day weeks for the first time when the 2022-23 school year begins Tuesday, August 16.
Yuma School District-1 committed to the four-day week earlier this year, in large part to attract teachers.
Monday will be the off day, with classes being held Tuesday through Friday. There will be some exceptions when school is held on Monday, such as the week of Thanksgiving.
The school day will be a bit longer than in the past in order to continue to meet the teacher/student contact hours requirement. The school day will be 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Buildings open for students and breakfast at 7:30.
Yuma High School and Yuma Middle School held back-to-school events on Wednesday of this week.
Morris Elementary is hosting an open house on Friday, August 12, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Students can bring in their supplies and meet their teachers.
There are several new staff members at YHS. Presley Papachek is the new athletic director. New teachers are Mellani Rutledge for English, Ty Thurston for business, Helena Chouinard for math, and Jazmine Diaz serving as a “floating instructor.” Bailee Clarkson is a registrar and counseling assistant, while Lidia Avina is a ESL para/translator.
Meanwhile, Dave Sheffield has moved out of the classroom and is now the assistant principal.
YMS has some changes among its staff. Lesa Routh-Halcomb is now the science teacher for grades 5-6 after previously serving as a substitute. Sarah Leifheit is now the floating instructor at YMS, after previously teaching grades 5-6 science. Jenna Wall joins the YMS staff as a special education para.
MES has a new first-grade teacher in Kiera Mekelburg, and two new second-grade teachers in Kelci Rahm and Kayla Jay. Kelsey Andrews will be the floating instructor after previously teaching first grade. Tonya Serl and Jane Wakefield join the staff as special education paras.
Damaris Duarte is a new custodian.
Area schools
• Otis R-3 will open the school year on Thursday, August 18. There will be an open house on Tuesday, August 16, from 6 to 8 p.m. Students and parents can see the classrooms, meet the teachers and drop off school supplies.
• Lone Star’s first day is a little further out as the school year will begin on Tuesday, August 23.
• Liberty J-4 will host a Back to School Night on Friday, August 12, at 5 p.m. The first day of school is Monday, August 15.
• Arickaree R-2 is hosting a Back to School Night today, August 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. The first day of school is Monday, August 15.