Work week shortened for savings

BEAUFORT - The thermostats are going up and the number of work days is going down as part of a money-saving conservation effort this summer by the Carteret County school system.

Beginning this week, a four-day work week will take effect and continue through Aug. 8. During this time, employees will work 10-hour days Monday through Thursday of each week.

And while they are gone during the three-day weekend, lights will be off, vehicles will be off the road and building temperatures will be kept around 82 degrees, which should save energy but still properly control humidity in the buildings.

It's an effort to save money by cutting back on utility and fuel costs.

"We are continuously seeking ways to conserve funds," said Carteret County Public School System Superintendent Brad Sneeden. "By going to a four-day work week for the summer we will be actually be shutting down schools and offices each Thursday evening and reopening each Monday morning. Additionally, fuel will not be used by maintenance and transportation trucks and employees on that fifth day."

Sneeden said the steady rise in the cost of fuel oil and diesel fuel, which is used for everything from running the school system's fleet of buses to heating buildings, has been a major catalyst for discussions of ways to conserve funds.

Diesel fuel costs to the schools, he said, has increased from $2.52 a gallon in September to $4.08 a gallon recently.

While most students are out for the summer, Sneeden said there are still buses transporting students attending summer school as well as activity buses that are on the road for summer camps and sometimes used by parks and recreation programs.

The state covers the cost of fuel for yellow buses while the county pays for activity buses.

But whether it is at state or county expense, the school system wants to do its part to cut expenses where it can.

"I think saving money is the right thing to do," he said.

In addition to the direct impact of fuel increases, Sneeden said there is the indirect impact on utility expenses, which can increase when fuel costs increase.

Sneeden said it will be summer's end before they can tell just how much the four-day work week has helped, but they believe it's worth the try.

"Common sense tells us there will be savings," he said.

The new schedule impacts every part of the school system, including schools, the central services office, the transportation and maintenance departments, food services, warehouse and custodial.

"With the rising costs of utilities and fuel, we must find ways to conserve money," Sneeden said. "It is the school system's responsibility to the citizens and taxpayers of the county to seek ways to reduce costs, and this is one way we can do that."

The four-day work week will impact about 200 of the school system's 1,200 employees since a majority of employees are teachers who work when students are in session.

Sneeden said employees should also see a savings because they will not be driving to and from work each Friday.

The only exceptions to this summer schedule will be non-school system workers involved in painting and constructions projects at the schools.

Contact Carteret County reporter Jannette Pippin at jpippin@freedomenc.com or 252-808-2275. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.