Elite Level Fire Damage Restoration in Mesquite, TX
Fire damage to your home is one of the most traumatizing, frightening tragedies a person can experience. This is especially true in apartment buildings and multifamily homes, where dozens if not hundreds of families are affected by fire and smoke damage. When a fire rips through an apartment building, the property damage can be catastrophic. But the damage caused by fires doesn't end once the flames have been extinguished. Victims are left wondering what happens next now that their belongings are destroyed. When will they have a roof over their again?
In these circumstances, prompt, purpose-driven fire damage restoration is key to reducing victims' financial and emotional strain.
The National Fire Protection Association states that a structure fire is reported every 65 seconds. When the fire alarm sounds, emergency responders answer the call for help with decisive action. But once the smoke clears, Atlas National Renovations' team of fire restoration experts step in to give hope to property managers, apartment tenants, and commercial property owners.
With decades of combined experience in disaster recovery, ANR understands the complexities associated with commercial and apartment building fires. We have helped the top multifamily groups in Texas recover their tenants' homes and belongings with care and compassion. If you're a property manager and you're still reeling from a fire disaster, know that we're here to help you too.
At Atlas National Renovations, our expert project managers and technicians play key roles in complicated fire restoration projects. We specialize in restoring Class A, B, and C properties like apartment complexes, high-rise buildings, multifamily buildings, mixed-use developments, large commercial properties, and more.
Restoration Services
- Elite Level Fire Damage Restoration in Mesquite, TX
- Fire Damage Restoration for Apartment Buildings in Mesquite, TX
- Our Fire Damage Restoration Process
- Tips for Preventing Apartment Fires
- Trustworthy Fire Damage Restoration for Businesses in Mesquite, TX
- Discover the Atlas DifferenceDiscover the Top Restoration in Mesquite, TX
Service Areas
If you're looking for a top-tier fire damage restoration company in Mesquite, look no further than ANR. We're the top pick when it comes to large, detailed fire restoration projects because we:
- Are a Trusted Partner in Restoration and Disaster Recovery
- Adhere to OSHA Standards and State & Federal Regulations
- Use the Latest Equipment & Remediation Techniques
- Offer Innovative Solutions to Detailed Problems
- Provide Seasoned Project Managers for Each Fire Restoration Project
- Give Clients Clear and Consistent Communication
- Work with Insurance Companies
- Have a Knowledgeable & Courteous Leadership Team
Fire Damage Restoration for Apartment Buildings in Mesquite, TX
Owners and managers of apartment complexes know that the safety of their tenants is a major responsibility. Unfortunately, nobody can completely control when apartment fires occur. Fires in apartments and multifamily buildings may start small, but they spread quickly, often destroying several living spaces. These frightening fires destroy prized heirlooms, important documents, and can even be fatal. However, the work is only beginning once the fire is put out and lives are saved.
In the aftermath of a disaster, figuring out the next steps is hard. During this difficult time, it's important to be prepared. As a property manager or owner, having a fire damage restoration company on your checklist of resources is crucial.
Unlike residential fires, apartment and multifamily building fires add several more layers of complexity and stress. In these situations, you deserve a restoration partner that you can trust without question, and that company is Atlas National Renovations.

With years of experience guiding our technicians and project managers, the ANS team responds quickly to your fire damage emergency. Using advanced protocols and state-of-the-art restoration equipment, we get to work quickly to repair and restore your commercial property to its pre-loss condition. While restoring your property, we always keep your tenant's care and comfort in mind.
Our fire restoration services in Mesquite are comprehensive and include the following:
- Rapid Mobilization and Response
- Overall Catastrophe Management
- Emergency Board-Up Services
- Debris Removal and Disposal
- Apartment Content Inventory and Cleaning
- Soot and Smoke Removal Services
- Water Extraction
- Deodorization
- HVAC Cleaning and Decontamination
- Shoring Installment to Secure Buildings
- Interior & Exterior Renovations
Our Fire Damage Restoration Process
It's imperative to have someone with knowledge and experience on your side during a fire crisis.
When you call ANS, our fire restoration experts can help walk you through the steps you need to take once a fire occurs. This allows us to quickly gain control of the restoration project on your behalf. Once we have inspected your property, we'll provide a detailed report and scope of work for your fire damage restoration project.
ANS repairs all property damage caused by soot, smoke, and fire. Our IICRC-certified fire restoration teams construct the best plan to quickly get your building back to its pre-loss condition.

Because every property is different, each fire restoration project for apartment buildings is too. However, every fire disaster will have a similar process and will often include:
Contact ANS
Your fire restoration process begins when you call our headquarters. Our specialist will ask you a series of questions about the fire event that occurred. That way, we can arrive on-site with the proper resources and equipment.
Fire Damage Assessment
and Inspection
Our fire damage restoration team will carefully inspect the entirety of your apartment complex, from building to building and room to room. We do so to determine the extent of your apartment's fire, smoke, and soot damage. This step is crucial to developing a comprehensive restoration plan.
Board-Up Services
First responders like firefighters must break windows and cut holes in roofs to slow fire growth and save lives. Once the fire is out, our team can get to work, boarding up holes and constructing temporary fencing around the property.
Water Removal
If there is water damage associated with your apartment fire, we'll remove most of the water immediately. From there, we use air movers and dehumidifiers to help complete the drying process.
Smoke and Soot Removal
Within minutes of a fire, walls, electronics, and other surfaces are covered in soot. Smoke and ash continue to cause damage to every inch of your apartment building. That's why ANS uses specialized equipment to remediate smoke damage and remove odors. This process is often labor-intensive and can take time, especially for large fire damage restoration needs.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
Using a variety of restoration and cleaning techniques, our team will help clean restorable items and sanitize units for safety.
Restoration
Getting your apartment buildings to their pre-fire conditions is our ultimate goal. Depending on the size and scope of the fire restoration job, minor repairs like painting, drywall replacement, and new carpet installation might be needed. You might also need major structural renovations like re-siding, re-roofing, new window installation, floor replacement, and more.
Tips for Preventing Apartment Fires
If you're a property manager or own multifamily residential buildings, the thought of an apartment fire is terrifying. What starts as a small fire can quickly turn into a catastrophic event, with your entire complex up in flames. However, one of the best ways of preventing these fires is to know more about them.
Share these tips with tenants to help prevent deadly apartment fires:
Turn Off Heat Sources

Data shows that a large number of apartment fires begin with cooking. Often, these fires are caused by the ignition of common items like rags, curtains, wallpapers, and bags. Encourage tenants to keep their kitchens and cooking areas clear of combustibles. Never leave a stove unattended for long, and don't leave burners on by themselves. Unintentional mishaps like leaving heat sources on are common causes of fires that can be prevented with a little forethought.
Electrical Safety

Like heat sources, electrical malfunctions are also common causes of fires in apartment complexes. It's hard to prevent all electrical malfunctions, but you can tell tenants to avoid bad habits. Tips include never using extension cords as permanent solutions and never using a cable if the third prong is missing.
Appliance Safety

Appliances are a part of everyone's lives. They're also standard equipment in most apartment units. But if tenants don't take proper precautions, these useful tools can spark deadly fires.
Tips for Preventing Apartment Fires
No matter how large or small, fires are nightmare scenarios for entrepreneurs with commercial properties. Fire damage can completely ruin storefronts and offices, leaving charred remains and burned-up files before firefighters arrive. To make matters worse, soot and smoke damage ruin your businesses' furniture, HVAC system, carpet, walls, and windows.
To eliminate health hazards and restore your business to its pre-fire condition, you need to bring in a team of professionals with years of experience in fire damage remediation. At ANR, we use commercial-grade equipment and cutting-edge tools to clean up the aftermath of your fire and rebuild your property. That way, you can get back to running your business and providing for your family.

Share these tips with tenants to help prevent deadly apartment fires:
Remove Smoke and Fire Damage

One of the most common causes of large commercial loss stems from smoke and fire damage. Of course, these disasters cause injuries and fatalities. But they also generate tremendous amounts of damage, rot, mold, and harm to structures. Not to mention the devastation that fire damage has to the appearance and livability of the facility. Fire damage restoration companies restore - and also prevent - the root cause of the fire. Electrical outlets, wires, and other fire-prone items will all be addressed to prevent a subsequent disaster.
Highly Skilled

The best fire damage restoration professionals are highly-trained, exceptionally skilled, and properly equipped to deal with every aspect of a commercial fire. From handling major renovations to taking care of the lingering effects of smoke damage, pro fire restoration companies take care of it for you. Hiring ANR means you'll be working with technicians who have the knowledge, tools, and materials to get the job done right the first time.
Insurance Claims

When you start the claim process with your businesses' insurance company, they'll ask whether you've hired a fire damage restoration company. That's because companies like Atlas prevent further damage from occurring and calculate an estimate of your total loss. You can submit this estimate to your insurance company, which may then provide you with resources to complete your company's disaster recovery mt-md-1
Discover the
Atlas Difference
Fire damage restoration is a crucial, complex process that professionals must perform. With decades of expertise, unmatched restoration quality, and the scalability for any job, Atlas National Renovations is well-equipped to be your single source for commercial fire damage restoration in Mesquite, TX. We are specially equipped to make difficult restoration projects easy for owners.
When a fire disaster strikes, you need a timely response from a trustworthy team of experts. Don't settle for a mediocre fire restoration partner. Choose ANR to get the job done right the first time. Contact our office today to learn more about our fire restoration services in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Free Consultation
Latest News in Mesquite, TX
Mesquite ISD backs off four-day school week proposal
Talia Richmanhttps://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2023/03/06/mesquite-isd-backs-off-four-day-school-week-proposal/
Mesquite school leaders backed away from a proposal to move to a four-day week. The district was among the largest in Texas to consider cutting down the academic week in an effort to recruit and retain more teachers. The choice has so far mostly been limited to small and rural districts.Related:...
Mesquite school leaders backed away from a proposal to move to a four-day week.
The district was among the largest in Texas to consider cutting down the academic week in an effort to recruit and retain more teachers. The choice has so far mostly been limited to small and rural districts.
Related:Mesquite ISD considers a four-day school week
The “extreme teacher shortage” in Mesquite ISD can lead to unfilled positions, a large number of uncertified educators and larger class sizes, according to a district webpage explaining why they considered the switch to a shorter school week.
But community members raised concerns about how closing schools to students each Friday would impact those who rely on campuses for meals. They worried about child care challenges that could lead to students being unsupervised. More than 38,000 students are enrolled in Mesquite schools.
Based on concerns about the negative impact on learning, Superintendent Ángel Rivera told the board he will not recommend a four-day instructional week, according to spokeswoman Brenda Gonzalez.
Related:More Texas districts debate 4-day school weeks. Is it worth it?
A new proposed calendar will be brought to the trustees Monday evening. The administration wants to extend the school day by 15 minutes to allow for extra breaks during the school year and enable the district to finish the year before Memorial Day.
“The new draft calendar will seek to address the issues of teacher workload, planning time, professional learning and work-life balance,” Gonzalez said in a statement.
About 40 Texas districts are on a four-day week, with more than a dozen launching the schedule this school year, according to estimates from the Texas Classroom Teachers Association.
Anna and Terrell ISDs recently adopted the four-day instructional week for next academic year.
Staff writer Valeria Olivares contributed to this article.
The DMN Education Lab deepens the coverage and conversation about urgent education issues critical to the future of North Texas.
The DMN Education Lab is a community-funded journalism initiative, with support from Bobby and Lottye Lyle, Communities Foundation of Texas, The Dallas Foundation, Dallas Regional Chamber, Deedie Rose, Garrett and Cecilia Boone, The Meadows Foundation, The Murrell Foundation, Solutions Journalism Network, Southern Methodist University, Sydney Smith Hicks and the University of Texas at Dallas. The Dallas Morning News retains full editorial control of the Education Lab’s journalism.
Texas' economy is recovering at an unprecedented rate, according to a presentation at this Mesquite chamber event
Winston Henvey / Star Local Mediahttps://starlocalmedia.com/mesquitenews/texas-economy-is-recovering-at-an-unprecedented-rate-according-to-a-presentation-at-this-mesquite/article_7651cf1a-b40f-11ed-b2e0-affd59681735.html
Mesquite community members gathered at Dallas College Eastfield to learn about where the local economy is going.Three years after the pandemic, the state of Texas is continuing to recover at an unprecedented rate following an unprecedented decline, according to Stephen Clayton with the Dallas Federal Reserve.“We had a very strong recovery coming out of the pandemic,” he said. “The fundamentals of our state economy are strong, and that strength allowed us to bounce back quickly from the unprecedentedly large ec...
Mesquite community members gathered at Dallas College Eastfield to learn about where the local economy is going.
Three years after the pandemic, the state of Texas is continuing to recover at an unprecedented rate following an unprecedented decline, according to Stephen Clayton with the Dallas Federal Reserve.
“We had a very strong recovery coming out of the pandemic,” he said. “The fundamentals of our state economy are strong, and that strength allowed us to bounce back quickly from the unprecedentedly large economic pullback.”
According to Clayton, the state saw an over 1.4 million loss in jobs – almost 10% of its total job market – within five weeks at the start of the pandemic.
“It was 10 times more than the job loss seen in the great recession in 2008,” he said. “On a weekly basis, this is the greatest job loss we've ever seen.”
While it typically has taken years to recover from an economic recession, Clayton said Texas has recovered quicker than it has historically. While employment growth in the past has been around 2%, it has jumped to 4% to 6% in the last couple of years, and it’s still on the rise. According to Clayton, Texas has grown 1% above the national average each year in its employment rates.
With a strongly diverse economy powered largely by technology and manufacturing, the Dallas area was the second least impacted by the pandemic area, behind Austin. San Antonio was largely impacted due to its reliance on tourism. West Texas and Houston were also impacted due to a decrease in fuel demands.
Clayton said participation in the labor force has declined.
The most impacted part of the labor force was single mothers who worked in a face-to-face service industry. With a lack of access to affordable childcare, single mothers have had a harder time finding employment, according to Clayton.
Coming out of the pandemic, manufacturing has become a more prominent industry.
Construction has slowed due to supply chain issues, a labor shortage and higher interest rates, Clayton said.
When Mesquite Chamber of Commerce President Alexander Helgar asked Clayton what other sectors Mesquite should add to its increasingly diverse economy, Clayton said developers should be wary of class-A offices because of the current lack of demand.
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School events, butterflies, macarons and more: see what Mesquite has coming the week of March 19
Winston Henveyhttps://starlocalmedia.com/mesquitenews/school-events-butterflies-macarons-and-more-see-what-mesquite-has-coming-the-week-of-march/article_3f5080ee-c2f4-11ed-9a45-2375d1aa3c8d.html
Here are five things to do in and around Mesquite the week of March 19:Leave your Mark on Mesquite’s Butterfly TrailKeep Mesquite Beautiful (KMB) invites community members to participate in an opportunity to enhance one of Mesquite’s natural treasures, the Paschall Park Butterfly Trail on Saturday, March 25 for National Learn About Butterflies Day.In cooperation with the City of Mesquite Parks and Recreation Department, Keep Mesquite Beautiful is working with experts in the native plant field...
Here are five things to do in and around Mesquite the week of March 19:
Leave your Mark on Mesquite’s Butterfly Trail
Keep Mesquite Beautiful (KMB) invites community members to participate in an opportunity to enhance one of Mesquite’s natural treasures, the Paschall Park Butterfly Trail on Saturday, March 25 for National Learn About Butterflies Day.
In cooperation with the City of Mesquite Parks and Recreation Department, Keep Mesquite Beautiful is working with experts in the native plant field to broaden the wildflower meadows, enhance the show of flowers, and increase the quantity of butterflies visiting the area.
More information can be found by calling 972-329-8331.
Learn more about your city
The City of Mesquite is hosting a town hall meeting on Tuesday, March 28, 2023, at Mesquite City Hall, 757 N. Galloway Ave in Training Rooms A & B, beginning at 6:30 p.m. to discuss communications. Attendees can learn about the City of Mesquite's new initiatives to communicate with the whole community.
Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2N93oKR
Spring Equinox and National Macaron Day
Join the Mesquite Arts Council as they welcome you back for their monthly "Tote + Go" services that provide art kits to the public. This is a free service, with no registration required, and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Children DO NOT need to be present.
On Monday, March 20 at 12 PM. Mesquite Arts Center staff will hand out 100 kits that are inspired by Spring Equinox (March 20 at 4:24 PM) and National Macaron Day (March 20) . This will include:
Story time at Town East Mall
Come #ReadPlayTalk with Mesquite ISD at its monthly story time at Town East Mall from 12:30-1 p.m. March 23. This month's story time will be led by ReadPlayTalk and ChildCareGroup. Families will enjoy a story and a craft.
Mesquite ISD Teacher Job Fair
Join Mesquite ISD for its upcoming hiring event for teachers on Saturday, March 25, from 9-11 a.m. at the K. David Belt Professional Development Center (located at 3819 Towne Crossing Blvd. Mesquite, TX 75150 - Enter on the NE side of the building - across from El Fenix)
Mesquite ISD has seen improvements in academic performance since it began learning recovery efforts, according to presentations at Mesquite ISD’s recent board of trustees meeting.
At a March 6 meeting, ESSER Effectiveness Officer Orlando Riddick showed the board how students’ standardized testing scores have changed from September 2022 to January 2023.
When looking at English and Language Arts scores, students in first through third grade who took the Amira test showed a 28% increase in students at or beyond their grade level. The number of students who were a year behind dropped by 47%, Riddick said.
Children in fourth and fifth grade who took the Waggle test showed an overall decrease in the number of students not meeting their grade level and an increase of students meeting or exceeding their grade level of English comprehension. The same trend occurred for students in grades 6-8 who took the IStation test.
High school students taking English I and English II showed a slight increase in English MAP scores from an average 211 to 214 between September and January. The district aims to meet or exceed its pre-pandemic score of 222 average between both levels.
Overall, math MAP scores have increased across all grades except 10th grade, which saw no change, Riddick said.
Students in grades K-8 saw 35.1% of its population who did not meet their grade level, 39.9% who approach grade level, 19.1% who meet grade level and 5.9% who mastered their grade level.
Students in Algebra I saw 37.6% of students who did not meet their grade level, 37.6% of students who approached grade level, 19.1% of students who met their grade level and 1.9% of students who mastered grade level.
In a separate report, Advanced Academics Director Russell Weeks said that Mesquite ISD is seeing more students engage in advanced academics.
Currently, 7% of Mesquite ISD’s student body participates in advanced academics – 2% more than the state average, Weeks said.
The number of AP tests administered in Mesquite ISD rose by 190 since 2021, and the number of students who earned credits also increased.
Students enrolled in dual credit with Dallas College earned a combined 13,628 credit hours. Additionally, 64 Mesquite students were nationally recognized for their SAT scores, and more of the district’s academic teams have qualified for state and national competitions, Weeks said.
Middle schools and elementary schools are also seeing expanded academic programs with spelling bees now offered to grades 3-5 and the A+ Academic UIL program expanding beyond the high school level.
In a video Weeks played for the board of trustees, students said that having academic competitions has helped build confidence and generated more excitement for learning and competing with their peers.
Mesquite control is not an easy task — let LandVisor improve the odds
Corteva Agrisciencehttps://www.beefmagazine.com/grazing-systems/mesquite-control-not-easy-task-let-landvisor-improve-odds
Mesquite control has always been more than just herbicide selection. For successful mesquite control, land managers must also track a complex mix of environmental factors to determine optimum timing.“Some leaf conditions cannot be seen by the naked eye, and it’s hard to track and compare growing conditions across multiple years, but we can do that with LandVisor,” says Benny Martinez, market development specialist, Corteva Agriscience.LandVisor advanced brush management helps producers figure out where and whe...
Mesquite control has always been more than just herbicide selection. For successful mesquite control, land managers must also track a complex mix of environmental factors to determine optimum timing.
“Some leaf conditions cannot be seen by the naked eye, and it’s hard to track and compare growing conditions across multiple years, but we can do that with LandVisor,” says Benny Martinez, market development specialist, Corteva Agriscience.
LandVisor advanced brush management helps producers figure out where and when spraying will deliver the best return — and where it won’t.
Before LandVisor, producers were totally dependent on visual indicators to guess what was going on in the plant. It was the only way to judge the plant’s ability to absorb and translocate herbicide.
“With the technology and insight we collect through LandVisor, we can better calculate times to apply brush control, as well as when not to apply those measures,” says Martinez. “And with LandVisor maps, the entire landscape is
visible, enabling assessment of the total mesquite community, instead of a few selective plants.”
Improve the initial level of mesquite mortality and garner long-term control with LandVisor advanced brush management from Corteva Agriscience.
KNOW BEFORE THE SPRAY
K.C. Windham says he got a different picture of his Clyde, Texas, ranch when he enrolled in LandVisor advanced brush management.
“With this program, you don’t have to guess,” he says.
The ranch has been in his family for four generations. Windham has seen it all from horseback since he was big enough to ride, but LandVisor provided a more detailed, interactive image.
“Mesquite is notoriously difficult to kill,” Windham says. “If you have to budget for brush control, this technology really helps you out.”
A critical element in successful control is timing the spray application when mesquite is most susceptible. LandVisor monitors the health of the mesquite foliage, its growth stage and other environmental factors. That information determines when the mesquite is ready to spray.
HIGHER, MORE CONSISTENT CONTROL
As Martinez explains, relying on LandVisor helps take the guesswork out of application timing. Making applications inside prescription parameters for LandVisor advanced brush management significantly improves the level of mortality.
“Data collected over a four-year period shows LandVisor not only facilitates an increase in mesquite mortality, it also increases consistency of rootkill when recommendations are followed,” Martinez says. “And level of rootkill directly correlates to longevity of control.”
To request a demo or for more information, visit LandVisor.com.
™ ®Trademarks of Corteva Agriscience and its affiliated companies.
Related
Could Four-Day School Weeks Be the Future of Texas Schools?
Simone Carterhttps://www.dallasobserver.com/news/mesquite-isd-may-move-to-four-day-school-week-join-growing-list-of-texas-school-districts-15992270
Many teachers have had just about enough of the state’s public education system, and some are seriously considering leaving (or have already left) the field. So, in an attempt to hold onto faculty and staff, certain North Texas school districts are turning to a four-day school week.Mesquite ISD is one of the districts mulling a new calendar. Its website states that the four-day model would give ...
Many teachers have had just about enough of the state’s public education system, and some are seriously considering leaving (or have already left) the field. So, in an attempt to hold onto faculty and staff, certain North Texas school districts are turning to a four-day school week.
Mesquite ISD is one of the districts mulling a new calendar. Its website states that the four-day model would give staff more time to plan and “address instructional needs with the goal of improving overall performance.”
Reached for comment, a spokesperson said the district is not granting interviews on the subject right now, but that the board of trustees will come to a decision by March 6.
Laura Jobe, Mesquite ISD’s chief information officer, presented pertinent data during a mid-February board discussion about the 2023–24 school year.
“Research tells us that the teacher is the most important factor in a student’s academic success, and that is what is driving this process to explore some other calendars to see if that can help us recruit and retain more teachers,” she said during last week’s meeting. “We have a desire to ensure that we have a quality teacher in every single classroom in Mesquite ISD, and as you know, we are facing a nationwide shortage.”
A national survey from last fall indicates that more than half of public schools, 53%, were understaffed at the beginning of this school year, per the National Education Association. Jobe noted that Mesquite ISD saw some 108 teacher vacancies in August, though the district has since recovered a bit.
The idea of moving to a condensed instructional week appears popular among Mesquite ISD employees and parents alike. Asked in a survey how they’d view a four-day model for next year, 72% of parents said they were very or somewhat supportive of the change, and 84% of staff said the same.
More than 40 districts across the state have embraced the four-day schedule, including Anna and Terrell ISDs in North Texas. Mesquite ISD would be the largest district to implement such a shift in this region, according to WFAA.
Nicole Hill, communications director for the Texas AFT union, called the idea of four-day weeks a “multi-layered situation.”
“I think what is always a concern when you're dealing with this is loss of instructional time,” she said. “We're always worried about that, obviously, especially coming out of a pandemic where we lost an immense amount of instructional time. But I would also say you could have a district that has a six-day week and still not get a quality education if all of that time is being eaten up by things like [standardized] testing.” The way Hill sees it, it’s important to ask whether this idea is treating a symptom or a root cause. Some districts have had positive employee feedback about the change, but there are many more quality-of-life issues that need to be addressed, as well as higher pay.
Teachers often push for protected non-instructional time to plan and collaborate with colleagues, so a four-day week could potentially help improve working conditions, said Holly Eaton, director of professional development and advocacy with the Texas Classroom Teachers Association. Some participating districts have chosen to add time to each of the school days to make up for the day off. Other districts, meanwhile, are instead extending the school year.
Eaton also mentioned a notable distinction: This wouldn't mean a four-day work week for teachers, who would presumably clock in on the fifth day. And some districts may provide options for the children of working parents who would otherwise need to find daycare.
However, one study of a recently minted four-day school district found a drop in student achievement and teacher retention, Eaton said. Nearby home values also slumped. Part of the problem may be that the district didn’t raise teacher salaries to make pay more competitive.
“To me that sort of says: It can't be a silver bullet if you're trying to address teacher shortages,” Eaton said. “It can be one facet of a probably multi-pronged approach.”
In addition, advocates may tout the move as a cost-saving measure, but Eaton said research suggests that districts usually just save below 3%.
“It's a pretty mixed bag on the research,” she said, “so it's important to proceed with caution.”
Texas AFT’s Hill mentioned that many of her organization’s members believe they don’t have a voice in decisions regarding their own profession. It’s encouraging to see districts like Mesquite asking for their employees’ thoughts via surveys, she said.
Public education is in a “very interesting moment,” she continued. The Texas Legislature is considering bills that could shape the state’s school system for better or worse: While some lawmakers are pushing for teacher pay raises, others are gunning for school vouchers and privatization.
“It's this weird tension right now in the education space. On one hand, you want to give us money, and on the other hand, you want to take that money away,” she said. “We really do have two paths here. … And we will see in May which one we choose.”
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