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Sunday, October 04, 2015

WICOMICO ADDING FOUR TEACHERS TO REDUCE KINDERGARTEN CLASS SIZE

Westside Primary, Fruitland Primary, Pinehurst Elementary and Prince Street Elementary to Have Additional Kindergarten Teacher as of Oct. 1

Four Wicomico elementary schools will have an additional kindergarten teacher as of Oct. 1 to reduce class sizes to a more manageable level.

Since the start of the 2015-2016 school year, and even during the summer, the school system monitored kindergarten class sizes across the county. At Westside Primary, Pinehurst Elementary, Fruitland Primary and Prince Street Elementary, the average kindergarten class size was 26.7 to 29.4 students.

“We’ve been watching class sizes closely, monitoring kindergarten enrollment at all schools and particularly these four schools, along with teachers, administrators, and parents,” said Susan Jones, Director of Elementary Education. “Although we tried to prepare for anticipated enrollment at each school by moving several teachers over the summer, kindergarten numbers in the four schools have been even higher than expected, resulting in larger class sizes than we would want to have in those classrooms.”


Earlier this month, the Board of Education directed that the four schools immediately begin the process of hiring new kindergarten teacher for each school. The schools conducted the application and interview process together, and selected one new kindergarten teacher each. The new teachers will be in the classroom on Oct. 1, and parents and guardians of students who will be in these new classes have received information from their child’s school.

“We’re delighted that the Board of Education gave the go ahead to hire a new kindergarten teacher for each school as soon as possible. Each of the four schools has a room for the new kindergarten class, and an instructional assistant will be moved from elsewhere in the system to work with each new kindergarten teacher,” Jones said.

A new kindergarten teacher for each school will reduce the average class size for all kindergarten classes in that school:

Fruitland Primary: 29.4 students per kindergarten class now, 24.5 with the new teacher

Westside Primary: 28 students per kindergarten class now, 22.4 with the new teacher

Pinehurst Elementary: 27.7 students per kindergarten class now, 20.75 with the new teacher

Prince Street: 26.7 students per kindergarten class now, 21.4 with the new teacher

“We heard concerns from some of our kindergarten parents about high class sizes, and we shared those concerns,” Jones said. “Our Board recognizes the importance of having manageable class sizes in kindergarten classrooms, and we’re pleased that the Board acted quickly to bring in additional teachers to serve these students.”


17 comments:

  1. Reality check: How much of this increase has been generated by the flood of immigrants?
    These new salaries will be a way to measure that impact.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Immigrants are the problem, need better control on our borders !!
    We must elect a president that will do a better job.

    ReplyDelete
  3. 8:33 You win!That is exactly what is driving increases

    ReplyDelete
  4. Children, immigrants or not, are the life blood and the future of America.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was being polite.
    I meant ILLEGAL immigrants, phony refugees, etc.

    signed: 8:33 AM

    ReplyDelete
  6. More welfare is all it is. Four teachers getting paid $60,000 too change diapers. No wonder we have soooo many teachers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. If I was paid $60,000 to change diapers then I wouldn't be a teacher!

      Delete
  7. I know a teach with a master's degree who changes diapers. But doesn't get paid any 60K. Assistants pay is all he can get.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous Anonymous said...
    Long overdue!

    September 30, 2015 at 8:46 AM

    Said a lazy teacher!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous said...
    Children, immigrants or not, are the life blood and the future of America.

    September 30, 2015 at 5:12 PM

    Said a liberal jerk off! You are the reason we need Donald Trump!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous said...
    I know a teach with a master's degree who changes diapers. But doesn't get paid any 60K. Assistants pay is all he can get.

    October 1, 2015 at 7:03 AM

    How ironic this comment with poor grammar about a 'teacher.' LMFAO

    ReplyDelete
  11. Where did this money come from??

    How did the school board find $400,000 to move into a new Central Offfice.

    Now they are finding another $400,000 for 4 new teachers that wasn't in the budget.

    WTH!! You people need to wake up and take control of this School Board. That is nearly $1 million dollars. With the unknown expense of moving you can bet it is well over $1,000,000!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I wonder what the student to teacher ratio is in the Western and Eastern part of the county. Does anyone know?

    ReplyDelete
  13. 8:19
    I don't know about now, but 20 years ago it was about 30 students per teacher in the kindergarten classes.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Another what? $300k ? For what ? Kindergarten teachers. Smdh. And in schools that should've built jails in them.

    ReplyDelete
  15. You Europeans are the first immigrants..... Get over yourselves.... #Facts

    ReplyDelete

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