Published: August 26, 2008 12:07 am      

Classroom size topic of BOE discussion

FAIRMONT — How many students in a classroom is too many?

That question dominated a special meeting of the Marion County Board of Education Monday.

With students back in the classroom today, the board called the special meeting at the request of Superintendent of Schools James Phares to approve a host of personnel actions to make sure there were enough employees in the schools.

With only personnel actions on the agenda, the meeting was quickly dominated by a discussion of student/teacher ratio and transfer procedures.

Board member Richard Pellegrin, a retired principal, said he was shocked some students that live in another attendance area had been asked to leave East Park Elementary because there wasn’t enough room for them.

Chandra Henderson’s two sons had been attending East Park, though they lived in the East Dale attendance area. Henderson was told there wasn’t enough room at East Park for her oldest son, who is entering fourth grade.

Henderson came to the board meeting, but did not speak at the meeting.

She said later her oldest son had problems with the open classroom environment at East Dale. She believes the open classrooms are the reason he had to repeat first grade.

“I’m afraid he’ll get behind this year,” she said. “I believe there’s room for him.”

It’s all part of the school system’s open enrollment policy. A parent can take their child to any school in the county but the parent must provide transportation. If the chosen school has an increase in attendance and there’s no room for that child, he or she must attend school in their attendance area.

Phares and administrative assistant Gary Price said there are several “bulges” in attendance throughout the county. At Rivesville School, Price said the attendance was reviewed and another fifth-grade position was added to alleviate the problem. Similarly, another position was added at East Dale.

Officials are monitoring the situation at East Park and in the fourth grade at Monongah Elementary, Phares said.

State Code states there can be no more than 25 children in a fourth-grade classroom, but they can be over by three students for a total of 28. For every child over 25, the classroom teacher is paid additional money, Phares said.

He said there is more physical space at East Dale, so that’s where the position was added.

Pellegrin said he was surprised by the transfer because he had never heard of asking a child to leave a school he had been attending.

The board discussed adding another position at East Park, but the members were divided and very vocal about their opinions.

Board members Mike Welty and Mary “Sis” Murray said they were concerned about fiscal responsibility. Murray explained the only way to add another position would be to take money away from another program.

Welty said he sympathized with the families affected, but there are rules in place for a reason.

“I don’t think the superintendent or principal would have made the call if it wasn’t necessary,” Welty said.

Board member Babette Simms joined Pellegrin in the opinion another teacher should be hired. Simms said she believed the younger students need more attention, and 28 students to a classroom is just too many.

“I think we could do with less things and put another teacher in class,” Pellegrin said.

Board President Rev. James Saunders said the board has always challenged the superintendent to be equal with student/teacher ratios throughout the system.

“I think Doc (Phares) will have a better handle on it Tuesday or Wednesday,” Saunders said. “I have no problem adding a teacher to reduce class size.”

Phares said he and his staff were monitoring the situation, which very well could be resolved today. Until school begins today, Marion County schools officially have an attendance of zero, Phares said. Since there are always students who come at the last minute or don’t show up at all, there’s some uncertainty.

E-mail Katie Wilson at kwilson@timeswv.com.