Carroll public school employees have the option of a four-day work week this summer, in an effort to reduce the cost of commuting to work -- the district’s own nod to rising gas prices.

Despite individual schedule changes, all county schools and offices will be open from the usual 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., five days a week.

The pilot program, which is voluntary, started this week and runs through Aug. 8, according to a memo from Superintendent Charles I. Ecker. Employees can either opt for working extended hours Monday-Thursday or Tuesday-Friday, a schedule that also accommodates three-day weekend getaways.