Back to School, But Not Back to Normal

Increased Class Sizes, More Combination Classes, Juxtaposed with Additional Preschool Class at Hardin Park

Story by Corinne Saunders

In the upcoming weeks, High Country Press will do its best to discuss various aspects of the changing climate for the upcoming school year, brought about by budget cuts statewide. Last week, we presented the 2009-10 changes in shortened school bus routes, 75 fewer school personnel and the new August 31 kindergarten eligibility date.

Although administrators are still waiting for the state budget to be finalized to determine the specifics of the upcoming school year, the current expectations include increased class sizes in kindergarten through 12th grades and more combined-grade classes than in previous years. One positive aspect of the upcoming school year, though, is an additional preschool class.

“On the local level, one piece of good news is [that] with a combination of head start and [the] federal Title 1 [funding] increase, we will have a second preschool class at Hardin Park [Elementary],” said Marshall Ashcraft, Watauga County Schools community relations director.

Each of the eight local elementary schools have one preschool class, and Hardin Park will be the first to add on a second preschool class, he said.

Unlike the kindergarten to 12th grade classes, which accommodate all enrolled area students, preschool is “a program for which we have more demand than we have space,” Ashcraft said. “[Hardin Park] is our largest school, and we do have the most applications there.”

Increased Class Sizes
Students in kindergarten to 12th grade, however, can expect the average class size to increase by two students per class. The state sets the maximum class size and is increasing it by two from last year’s maximum class size, Ashcraft said.

Individual class sizes “could go up slightly more or less, depending on the grade,” Ashcraft said.

The state class size standards, determined by the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, are expected to increase by two students for the 2009-10 school year. The “plus two” standard is called for in both Senate and House versions of the state budget, said Marshall Gasperson, personnel and career/technical education director with Watauga County Schools.

The total number of students in a given grade is divided by the allotment column’s second number to determine for how many teachers the state will provide funding. For example, a third grade class of 40 pupils would receive an allotment of two third grade teachers.

“Each county gets an allotment of how many teachers they’re eligible for,” Gasperson said.

The average ratios are the average actual class sizes across North Carolina, and the maximum numbers reflect the maximum class sizes as mandated by the state. The second numbers in each column have been increased by two to reflect expectations for this school year.

Expected Grade Spans Teacher-Student Ratios 2009-10*

Combination Classes
The 2009-10 school year will also see combination classes double in number.

Every year, there are generally one or two combination classes—where more than one grade is represented in a classroom—at the smaller schools in the county, Gasperson said.

When there are not enough students in a grade to be able to provide them with a teacher, two grades are combined in one classroom under a single teacher. Combination classes are usually scheduled for first through fifth grades, because students in sixth grade and above have a different schedule, regularly changing classrooms, he said.

“Bethel pretty much always has a combination class at all times,” Gasperson said.

The countywide total is about three combination classes per year, but “this year, it’s going to be six or seven,” he said.

Because these classrooms have been a reality for Watauga County Schools for some time, though, the situation is far from catastrophic.

“I think historically because we have to do it in our smaller schools, we do a good job working through a non-ideal situation,” Gasperson said. “[This type of class is] something we’ve had to work with even before this budget crisis…dealing with it year in and year out, we’re effective with it.”

Fewer Teacher Assistants
Another huge difference from the school climate of former years is the reduction of teacher assistant positions.

“Approximately 24 or 25 classrooms [are left] with one less adult working with the children,” he said. “The teachers and students will not enjoy the same level of support they’ve had in past years.”

Which classrooms will not have teacher assistants in the 2009-10 school year, however, is a decision left to the individual schools. “I think our principals will do a good job knowing which classrooms need [teacher assistants] the most,” he said, adding that hopefully the knowledgeable decisions will circumvent any increase in student classroom misbehavior.

Budget Cuts Anticipated
When completed, the state budget will either involve line item cuts—specifying how much money is cut from what areas of school operations—or discretionary cuts, Gasperson said.

With discretionary reductions, the state cuts a certain amount of dollars and leaves local school systems “to decide how to allocate those reductions across our school systems,” Ashcraft said.

Either way the budget is sliced, the same amount of money will be cut, Gasperson said, adding that if the discretionary cuts are applied, schools do not have many options.

“Ninety percent of the school system budget is personnel, so where else are we going to cut from?” Gasperson said. “We can’t stop running buses, feeding the kids…or paying the electric bill. [However,] no matter how they do it, I think we’ve already dealt with the issue.”

Although he thinks the cuts have been dealt with already, Watauga County Schools was asked during the 2008-2009 school year to give about $300,000 back to the state. With reverted funding occurring last year, before the budget crisis, “it wouldn’t surprise me if [when spring] rolls around, they ask for money back again,” Gasperson said.

Despite drastic reductions in funding and personnel, school administrators remain optimistic.

“We’re going to have a great year,” Gasperson said. “There’s going to be some changes, we’re going to have to roll up our sleeves and…do more with less, but everyone’s doing that. We have quality professional educators [and] I’d stack our people up against anybody. I’ve always felt the most valuable cog in the education machine is the professional that stands in front of the kids. We have the best and the brightest.”

A new Watauga County Schools website is up and running. It will offer more information and all the upcoming school year specifics for parents, Ashcraft said. “We will be able to do things we could not do with our prior website,” he added.

For more information, call 828-264-7190 or click to www.watauga.k12.nc.us.

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