Tonganoxie students will start summer break a bit earlier.

At a Tonganoxie school board meeting earlier this week, assistant superintendent Kyle Hayden suggested that moving up the last day of school would save the district about $6,500 in pay for transportation, food service and paraprofessional staff each day. Overall, he said it would save about $25,000.

With only two of seven built-in inclement weather days used this year, Hayden proposed the cost-cutting measure.

The last day of school for students will be May 19 — instead of May 22 — and it will be a full day instead of the planned half-day. Teacher workdays now will be May 20 and 21.

The change won’t affect teacher contracts, Hayden said.

“In a year when we’re not going to give a lot, it may be a good gesture to go ahead and go home,” Hayden said, in reference to a tight budget year.

The board approved the measure, pending approval from the Tonganoxie Education Association.