The Mississippi Association of Superintendents voted Wednesday to fight funding woes by asking school boards to consider a four-day school week. The policy would not be implemented without the consent of the individual school boards but officials say it could cut expenses by 20 percent.

&uot;I hope we don’t have to do this,&uot; said Natchez-Adams Superintendent Dr. Carl Davis. This is a drastic measure.&uot;

Of about 100 superintendents who attended Wednesday’s meeting, about 75 voted in support of the idea, Davis said.

The superintendents decided to let their school boards know this plan &uot;will get us through the deficit crisis we’re dealing with,&uot; Davis said.

Districts are struggling with an increase in utility bills, settlements in a wage and hour overtime lawsuit and cuts from the state, Davis said.

Luckily for the Natchez-Adams School District it is not in as bad a shape as others in the state.

&uot;We can make it this year,&uot; Davis said. &uot;But I’m looking at the year after and the year after that if we have to keep making those cuts.&uot;

Under the four-day school plan, school would be extended for one and a half hours Monday through Thursday.

&uot;This way the kids will not be missing anything,&uot; Davis said.

Davis said he expects parents to hate this idea so he hopes it will motivate them to contact their state congressman.

&uot;We’ve got to have total community support,&uot; he said.

The superintendents discussed switching from a four-day school week from March until the end of the school year, Davis said.

He has not yet decided what action he will recommend to the Natchez-Adams School Board.

&uot;I think you have to look at each individual district,&uot; he said.