DESTIN, Fla. — Destin High School is potentially switching out five-day school weeks for four-day school weeks.

Schools around the country have made the switch, according to CNN, as roughly 2,100 schools across 26 states have four-day weeks.

Destin HS recently released a survey to the school community to get their thoughts. The results are overwhelmingly positive from teachers, students, and their parents.

“We did some research, and we proposed it to our board,” said Destin HS Principal Dr. Diane Kelly. “We are now in the process of collecting survey information from our parents, students, and faculty.”

So far more than 350 people have shared their opinions on the survey.

The latest data shows more than 80 percent of responders say they support transitioning to a 4-day, Monday-Thursday school week, with no school on Fridays. Only 11.6 percent of people say they do not support the change.

“The students are really excited,” Dr. Kelly said.

“I like the fact that I’ll be able to have more time in class,” junior student Colby Labno said. “Assuming we have block scheduling. It would be really nice to work on homework or other things.”

Labno says it won’t only give students more class time, but it will also give students more time on their day off, like work.

Labno has a landscaping business.

“I run my own business, so I get to choose when I do and don’t work,” he said. “So it would be nice to have that extra day and spend more time with clients.”

Willy Williams, the executive director at Destin High, says Fridays could be used for things like workforce development.

“Some kind of informed extracurricular activities or internship opportunities on Fridays,” he said. “Those are certainly being explored — what might we do to pour people back into the community.”

He says Fridays can also be used for clubs to meet and sports teams practices.

One benefit the school lists for the change is teacher retention, recruitment, and satisfaction.

Advanced placement teacher Wendy Gill says she believes the 4-day work week would not only help prevent burnout in students but in teachers too. She says it gives teachers more time to get more done.

“If I can get more done in a class, then I don’t have so much to worry about that night,” Gill said.

Williams says this would also reduce absences in school due to appointments and travel sporting events.

When it comes to students who rely on school to give them healthy meals, school leadership says the “Backpack Program” would provide students with food for Friday on Thursday.

Dr. Kelly says they’ll know if the schedule will change by the end of February or early March.

The school will continue accepting responses to the survey through Feb. 14.

WEAR News reached out to the Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa school districts to ask about a possible four-day school week. Escambia and Okaloosa each said they are not considering the possibility at this time.

Santa Rosa County Schools stated they work diligently to ensure they meet the needs of families and students while maintaining high performance and an “A” school district rating.

At this time, they are not considering a four-day school week.

“We remain committed to providing a schedule that best supports the academic growth and increased student achievement for all students,” Santa Rosa County Public Information and Family and Community Outreach Officer Nadia Colin said. “We will continue to evaluate and explore ways to enhance learning opportunities for all as needed.”