BURNSVILLE, Minn. (WCCO) – A suburban school district may become the first in the metro area to shorten its week to save money.

The Burnsville-Eagan-Savage school board needs to save $5 million next year. One option would be to give students every other Monday off.

The greatest concern comes from parents worried about child care.

Gary Amoroso of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators says a number of rural districts have addressed such concerns and now have shorter weeks.

“What I’ve heard is that most parents and students actually endorse the four-day week once they’ve experienced it, and wouldn’t want to go back to a five-day week,” said Amoroso.

The number of days would be reduced by 17 but the total number of classroom hours would stay the same.

The Burnsville district is holding a workshop at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to talk about the shorter week and other options. It’s taking place at the Diamondhead Education Center on Burnsville Parkway.