The Sunrise R-9 School District will return to a four-day school week after the coming school year following passage of the Sunrise R-9 Four-Day School Week proposition today.
“I’m just super grateful the community showed up for us,” said Tiffany Mosier, the Sunrise principal for grades fourth through eighth. “I know our administration is excited to work with the community to transition back to the four-day week. I’m so relieved.”
The proposition passed in Jefferson County with 511 “yes” votes (69.71 percent) to 222 “no” votes (30.29 percent), and 41 “yes” votes (74.55 percent) and 14 “no” votes (25.45 percent) in St. Francois County, according to complete, but unofficial election results. The measure needed a simple majority to pass.
The district, which is located west of De Soto, serves students in prekindergarten through eighth grade, with most of its eighth-grade graduates going to De Soto High School.
Sunrise R-9 had been using a four-day week system since the 2019-2020 school year, but due to what Sunrise officials have described as a lapse, they missed the deadline to meet state regulations to put the issue before voters for the 2026-2027 school year. Therefore, the district will use a five-day schedule for at least that year.
“I think it will be an easier transition back to the four-day week,” Mosier said. “It was successful for us all these years. We can go back easier.
“It’s going to be difficult to get into the mindset for the five-day week this year.”
The district’s first day of classes for the 2026-2027 school year is Aug. 25.