District seeks input about enrollment dilemma

The Voorheesville Central School District is seeking the opinion of its residents on solutions to the problem of the growing enrollment at the district’s elementary school.

The school’s population, which has been growing over the past few years, is reaching a point where hiring a new teacher may be necessary to keep class sizes from becoming too large. The population has steadily grown from 500 students in September, 2003, to its current enrollment of 555. Based on the present growth rate, officials are predicting 563 students will be enrolled in the fall.

"This is unanticipated growth," said Superintendent of Schools Linda Langevin. "The Elementary School is growing faster than we thought it would."

Next year, the fourth grade is expected to be the largest class at the school, with an anticipated enrollment of 103 students, if the current trend continues. With 103 students, the school may create three classes with 26 students in each and one class with 25 students.

In addition to the fourth grade scenario, one of the third grade teachers is slated to move to a second-grade classroom next year to accommodate the 94 first graders who will be in the class. That shift will increase the number of second-grade teachers to five.

However, hiring an additional teacher would, reduce the student-teacher ratio in these classes, Langevin explained.

Principal Ken Lein said, "Increasing class size is a dilemma. It is important that we consider the financial impact while realizing that the demands of teaching have changed since most of us were students."

At this growth rate, the Elementary School will face a space crunch within in the next five years. District officials are working with a community planner to identify areas within the district to understand and plan for the impact of new housing developments.

At the present time, the Elementary School has three unoccupied rooms that can be used as classrooms. Two of these rooms will be used as "swing space" as classroom space during the construction that will occur in the next school year. These classrooms will become available upon completion of the capital project if the growth continues.

Currently the Middle/High School is able to absorb increases in student enrollment, Langevin said, but at some point, additional classrooms may need to be built at the Elementary School.

The district would like to hear from you. Do you think an additional teacher is necessary to support the fourth grade? Click here to send us your feedback.