Ash Grove R-4 to remain five-day district through 2024-2025 year

Change to four-day week didn't have enough board support, fails at Monday meeting

After years of considering a move to a four-day school week, and months of deep diving into different schedules including a hybrid version of a four- and five-day week, the Ash Grove Board of Education voted 4-2, the evening of Monday, April 15, in favor of keeping Ash Grove a traditional five-day district for the 2024-2025 school year.
The vote didn't come easy for the board of six, who is missing a member following the recent departure of Jeana Scroggins. Members Stephanie Dean, Amanda Reece and David Alborn were bent on the four-day schedule, while members Mike Gray, Amy Morton and Cody Stacey were not. After much discussion by the group—which remained civil and respectful—a vote for the four-day week ended in a 3-3 tie. Then a vote for the 164-day schedule—a version of a hybrid schedule—ended in a 3-3 tie.
After continued back-and-forth by the members, Alborn, who ran his election campaign on his support of a four-day week, relented, not for a change of heart but to move forward for the betterment of the district.
Citing the impasse, Alborn graciously agreed to put the issue behind the board with a vote to keep Ash Grove a five-day district.
"My vote is yes, go with the schedule we have. We cannot hold this district hostage," Alborn said before voting to forgo the four-day pursuit.
This is the second time the board has voted on whether to change to a four-day district. In May 2022, the board voted 4-3 against the move.
Board reorganized
Opening the meeting, board secretary Linlley Belker swore in new members Stacey and Reece. Following their installation, the board voted on its leadership. Gray will remain board president, while Dean will be the new vice president. Alborn was voted treasurer, while Morton will be the new MSBA delegate, with Dean the alternate.