GAINESVILLE, Texas (KTEN) — The Gainesville Independent School District is shaking up its schedule for the upcoming academic year.

After months of planning, the district is moving to a four-day school week for the 2023-2024 school year, taking Mondays off.

A survey of parents, students, and teachers showed support for the new calendar.

To account for the lost days, the school year will begin 10 days sooner, on August 7. It will also end five days later, on May 30.

The main purpose of the change is giving teachers more time for not just planning and training, but also more time to be with their families away from a demanding job.

"When we get to school and we have kids Tuesday through Friday, their focus can be on students; taking care of what needs to be taken care of for students," explained Gainesville ISD Superintendent Dr. DesMontes Stewart. "Teachers are not having to run in between conference periods to try and run back to a class or be pulled from a class."

Some Gainesville ISD parents raised concerns about students losing a day of provided meals, and having to secure an extra day of childcare. Dr. Stewart said the district is working on navigating these challenges.

"I've talked with some of our local entities that provide childcare services," Dr. Stewart said. "And I get it, you know, when you talk about it from an affordability standpoint, that is a concern, and it's also a concern of mine."

Nearby, Whitesboro Independent School District takes a different approach to shorter school weeks, taking a Monday off every three weeks.

"Some of those are actually days where teachers are at school without students, and some of them are just, go away, take a break, enjoy a three-day weekend, and we'll see you back next week," Whitesboro ISD Superintendent Ryan Harper said.

Several of the days that will be taken off are already incorporated into the school year as holidays, such as Thanksgiving week.

The first few weeks of school this fall will be the traditional five days long before transitioning to four.