OZARK, Mo -- The State of Missouri has the fourth shortest school year in the nation - and there are calls in Jefferson City to change that.
Most districts have a school calender of 174 days; Gov. Jay Nixon says he wants to bump that number up to 180. Teachers we spoke to say that's not a bad idea, but it will come at a cost to the district and taxpayers.
Nixon says he wants to add days to the school calendar because it will give Missouri students a better chance to compete with other states who have longer school years.
But more school days means more work days - for janitors, for cafeteria staff, for bus drivers, and of course, teachers.
"I'm assuming you're going to pay them for extra time involved," said Grant Jenkins, a teacher at Ozark High School who negotiates during collective bargaining sessions. "Would you work days without getting paid?"
If you put money aside, teachers say there are academic concerns with lengthening the school year, such as where you put the days on the calender.
At the beginning of the year, teachers say it's too hot for kids to concentrate. At the end of the year, teachers say it's tough to keep kids enthused about learning after MAP testing and summer around the corner.
