This upcoming school year, Warrensburg-Latham students will be joining what is becoming a growing trend for districts in dismissing early one day a week.

Superintendent Dr. Kristen Kendrick-Weikle told the WHOW Morning Show Thursday morning they will be dismissing at 2 pm on Wednesday afternoons to give their staff time for professional development.

Dr. Kendrick-Weikle believes the change will provide consistency for their students and parents. Instead of worrying about what days and times there will be an early dismissal, she says this will make it easy for everyone to remember. 

A new mandate in Illinois requires schools to keep kids in the classrooms longer during the school year starting this year but Dr. Kendrick-Weikle indicates this should not impact that mandate.

Dr. Kendrick-Weikle indicates a lot of the work done on Wednesdays will be interdepartmental and collaborative work. She notes the work will be data-driven, academics and social or emotional growth of their students.