COLUMBIA, La. (AP) — Many students in the Caldwell Parish School System are looking forward to a four-day school week for the 2008-09 school year.

The school board voted to reduce the school week to four days, conducting classes Tuesday through Friday. The instructional day will be lengthened to begin at 7:50 a.m. and end at 4:25 p.m.

Superintendent John Sartin said the start date of school might be moved up slightly.

Cost of fuel to run the bus fleet is partially responsible for the board’s decision. Sartin said since the district is mostly rural, buses travel about 1,064 miles each day, and the savings in fuel alone would likely be $92,000.

In addition to fuel savings, the board expects to save approximately $35,000 annually on substitute teachers and $10,000 a year on food costs for operating the cafeteria.