Special Palouse meeting addresses class sizes, scheduling

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Nov 10, 20110

If $19,000 could solve the problem, is it worth it?

If too many kids in a classroom is the issue, could more parent volunteers lessen the problem?

But then what about next year?

These and other topics relating to increased class size and student schedules were discussed in a special meeting of the Palouse School board Monday night.

Superintendent Bev Fox began the session by describing the situation.

In an era of differentiated instruction, she said the school is trying to meet the needs of all children. This year there are fewer changes in the students’ daily schedule, as far as elementary kids moving from classroom to classroom. The problem lies in that a few of those classrooms have as many as 31 kids in them.

Palouse Elementary added a teacher this year, a one-year position. Yet the class sizes are still large.

If the school hires another teacher, it could bring up another problem next year.

“We don’t want to be in a RIFing situation,” Fox said. “The emotional stress and drain on a staff is horrible.”

Fox brought up other potential reductions. If they cut the librarian, might the school lose students in an area with other school districts are nearby?

“There is a delicate balance,” Fox commented.

Fox discussed Para-Eds, or teacher’s aids, and a teacher in the audience made the point that there can be too many of them, when there should be an extra teacher.

Another related matter to class size is reconfiguring classrooms. Should fifth grade be by itself instead of combined with fourth, because of its last-gate-to-junior high importance? Should second grade be by itself?

Fox mentioned that the system set up for this year was based on previous discussions and enrollment projections.

“Do we change now?” she asked. “The trick is we didn’t know we were getting the new kids where we got them.”

A member of the public asked if it was hard to change around the combined classes.

The answer was no, and a discussion followed on how different combinations worked in the past.

“We would want to work closely with teachers to see what they thought,” said Fox. “But we couldn’t do it tomorrow.”

A total of five parents have committed to help in the classrooms, to counter the 31 kids issue.

“We all want what you want,” said School Board President Mike Dymkoski. “Let’s hire a teacher. How do we pay for it?”

“The grants are not there,” said Fox. “I’m open to any suggestions for funding.”

A few minutes later, Dymkoski noted that the meeting had gone for two hours, and perhaps they should close and plan a follow-up meeting.

A member of the public added something else.

“If we only need $19,000 to get these two grades (fourth and fifth) split just this year, that would be wonderful,” she said.

“The district has the money, but is it the right decision?” asked Fox, referring to finances in the general fund.

Other budget cuts are coming, she predicted, as the state legislature will convene in a special session at the end of this month.

“It makes me nervous that we lost four kids in October,” Fox added. The district, like all statewide, reports enrollment numbers each month to the state, which affects funds they receive.

“What is fiscally responsible?” Fox asked.

“The risk is that you guess wrong,” Dymkoski said, referring to the solidity of the community and the numbers of students they have from year to year.

“We’re talking about adding an F.T.E. (full time eqivalent),” answered Fox. “Now we’re affecting Garfield. We can’t make this decision by ourself.”