Victor Garcia, Visalia Times-Delta

The Visalia Unified School District's four-day summer work schedule helped lower its utility costs by $129,000, Superintendent Stan Carrizosa said.
Advertisement

In the district, office staff, custodians and maintenance crews work 12 months of the year.

Summer district staff worked 10 hours per day, four days per week.

Based on the program's success, the district is planning to continue it next summer, Carrizosa said.

"We realized a significant cost savings," he said.

Productivity also increased, Carrizosa said.

"With the 34 working days, we were actually able to complete the entire cleaning schedule with a little time to spare," he said.
Tulare City School District

The Tulare City School District also had the same program this past summer.

Clare Gist, district assistant superintendent of business, said that savings figures weren't available. She estimated the savings to be about $40,000, however.

The district is also considering the plan for the upcoming summer.