By Alex Bridges -- Daily Staff Writer

WINCHESTER — Don't expect city schools to cut the week to four days to save gas.

But that idea and others — fewer field trips, larger no-ride zones — may come up again if fuel costs spike or the budget takes another hit, as Superintendent Dennis Kellison warned the School Board on Monday.

Kellison referred to statements made earlier that day by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine about proposed cuts in the state budget. The superintendent said Kaine did not offer specifics, but Kellison believed all elements of kindergarten through high school is "on the table" for cuts.

"Based upon the governor's comments today, although there was nothing specific, he did say anything that was ... considered not touchable in the first round of cuts is now on the table," Kellison said. "What that means is there is going to be cuts in direct aid or reductions in direct aid this year. How much and when we'll know is — I think it's a matter of when, not if."

Cuts could pinch a system that budgeted $138,600 for fuel, an amount that Kevin McKew, director of Operation Services, warned would not suffice for any sharp increase in diesel fuel costs.

A popular move by some school systems and government agencies to cut the work week to four days didn't garner support from the board or officials.

"It's become popular to talk about a four-day week, but for me, it's a non-starter," said member John Bishop. "You think of the impact on the parents. All it really is is a cop out and shift of that cost. Now they have to worry about what are they going to do for day care on Fridays."

The list of options as presented by McKew include reducing or eliminating field trips, transportation for after-school activities or athletics. Another proposal would involve increasing the non-transported zones for each school.

The board likely would need to discuss the options further before selecting any of them, Kellison said.

"I would want to emphasize ... any of those issues would require a significant amount of school board discussion, input, staff discussion, certainly the public ... but I think they are things you are hearing about in media reports, and we're certainly not ignoring the fact that they're out there," Kellison said. "If we get a huge [fuel cost] increase or other budget considerations, any of them could be possible."

School officials have discussed scaling back transportation for sub-varsity sports, the superintendent noted, but doing so for varsity may be tougher.

Kellison suggested that the board's finance committee start looking at these options, noting that a four-day week "has significant ramifications."

McKew and Kellison both warned the board that the system could save 20 percent on the cost of fuel with a four-day week but would have to make other schedule adjustments that might not fit educational goals.

"At some point you reach a point of diminishing returns," said member N. Randolph Bryant.

* Contact Alex Bridges at abridges@nvdaily.com