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FALLON — After the Lahontan Valley News published an article regarding over capacity student-to-teacher ratios particularly in sixth grade classes at Numa Elementary School, April Chester, president of the Churchill County Education Association and fourth-grade teacher at Numa, came forward to say class sizes are too high even within capacity.
For this reason, she refused to sign a class size reduction report in October and has contacted the Nevada State Board of Education.
“That does concern me that April didn't sign it,” said President Richard Gent. “I could see from her point that you have one teacher dealing with 40 kids — yeah, that's going to be an issue.”
Chester said every year the school district is required to submit a class size reduction report which NRS 388.720 requires consultation with associations representing licensed educational personnel including CCEA. She alleges she was not given a copy of the report but told to sign it. Meihack claims to the extent of h is knowledge, she had the report up to a week prior to needing it signed.
Chester said when she did see the report, the school had requested a class size reduction waiver for an undisclosed plan, which she knew was the Elko Plan.
“Year after year the school district submits a waiver to increase class sizes past the acceptable number … I have serious concerns regarding ever increasing pupil-teacher ratios, and I am refusing to provide the required signature from the association on this year's waiver,” said Chester in a letter to Anthony Ruggiero, president of the Nevada State Board of Education.
Assistant Superintendent Scott Meihack said the Elko Plan has been used by the district for several years. He said the Elko Plan capacity for student-to-teacher ratio is 22-1 for first-third grades and 25-1 for fourth-sixth.
Meihack said as of Nov. 19, the average number of students in classrooms district-wide was 22.6 for first-grade, 22.7 for second, 22.5 for third, 24.9 for fourth, 25.6 for fifth and 25.9 for sixth. He said every elementary school has at least one grade level over capacity, but most grades are under, and some are losing students.
“Lahontan Elementary is dropping like flies,” Meihack said. “They have room for five in first.”
Chester said she thinks the averages do not accurately display the problems some classes are having and said first, second, fourth and sixth-grade are too high. Chester said people think teachers can handle these high number of students, but most don't realize how different classrooms are from 10-20 years ago. She said much time goes toward helping students who are behind or who have behavioral problems.
“When we started teaching, it used to be so different. You might have had two families that needed extra help. Now, you're lucky if you have three or four families that have it together,” Chester said.
“In our school alone, we have a lot of struggling teachers. They (the students) don't have all the skills in place, so it's a lot harder.”
She added many parents don't help their children with school work, which causes students to constantly fall behind.
“A lot of kids do not have the extra support at home. You're dealing with a lot of parents that aren't as supportive of education,” Chester said. “Yet, you're expecting them (teachers) to work with each individual child too. Most parents want that.”
Superintendent Carolyn Ross said those are problems teachers face, but teachers also have more resources than before.
“We have much more research and we are much more skilled. The professional development and assistance to schools is greater than ever before,” Ross said. “We can deal with it using the very best tools. Even if the parents aren't as present or as involved.”
Chester said teachers also struggle with Adequate Yearly Progress requirements, which Chester said the federal government raises every other year, creating unachievable goals.
“It would be a lot different if we didn't have to meet AYP,” Chester said. “They're expecting these kids to do math and read at higher levels than we've ever had, but we're not doing anything to ensure that.”
Meihack said he didn't want to begin another debate when asked about AYP.
“No matter what I say the association and other members of the association are going to argue,” Meihack said.
Chester said she understands the recession has hindered the school district to an extent, but there is approximately $1.2 million more in the unreserved ending fund balance than anticipated for the 08-09 year.
“The most important place in which to direct the extra funds, without question, should be directly to the education of our children,” Chester said.
Meihack said there is a possibility that left over money from the 2009 budget could be used to add new teachers. However, he thinks it is unlikely because the state may ask for money back, something that will be determined at a state legislature special session in December.
Board vice president Ron Evans said he thinks the district should use this money regardless.
“We had a 13 percent ending fund balance. The state recommends four to eight,” Evans said. “We have money right now. We have classes that are too big. Those are concrete things. We have to go with what we have, not what might be.”
Gent said considerations for using leftover funds from the budget will be discussed at the next school board meeting on Dec. 10, at which time he hopes the district and CCEA can work together.
“My job is to make sure we get that team building here,” Gent said. “I've got to get both sides together so everybody can hear everybody's sides, so we can move toward a common goal of student achievement.”
For this reason, she refused to sign a class size reduction report in October and has contacted the Nevada State Board of Education.
“That does concern me that April didn't sign it,” said President Richard Gent. “I could see from her point that you have one teacher dealing with 40 kids — yeah, that's going to be an issue.”
Chester said every year the school district is required to submit a class size reduction report which NRS 388.720 requires consultation with associations representing licensed educational personnel including CCEA. She alleges she was not given a copy of the report but told to sign it. Meihack claims to the extent of h is knowledge, she had the report up to a week prior to needing it signed.
Chester said when she did see the report, the school had requested a class size reduction waiver for an undisclosed plan, which she knew was the Elko Plan.
“Year after year the school district submits a waiver to increase class sizes past the acceptable number … I have serious concerns regarding ever increasing pupil-teacher ratios, and I am refusing to provide the required signature from the association on this year's waiver,” said Chester in a letter to Anthony Ruggiero, president of the Nevada State Board of Education.
Assistant Superintendent Scott Meihack said the Elko Plan has been used by the district for several years. He said the Elko Plan capacity for student-to-teacher ratio is 22-1 for first-third grades and 25-1 for fourth-sixth.
Meihack said as of Nov. 19, the average number of students in classrooms district-wide was 22.6 for first-grade, 22.7 for second, 22.5 for third, 24.9 for fourth, 25.6 for fifth and 25.9 for sixth. He said every elementary school has at least one grade level over capacity, but most grades are under, and some are losing students.
“Lahontan Elementary is dropping like flies,” Meihack said. “They have room for five in first.”
Chester said she thinks the averages do not accurately display the problems some classes are having and said first, second, fourth and sixth-grade are too high. Chester said people think teachers can handle these high number of students, but most don't realize how different classrooms are from 10-20 years ago. She said much time goes toward helping students who are behind or who have behavioral problems.
“When we started teaching, it used to be so different. You might have had two families that needed extra help. Now, you're lucky if you have three or four families that have it together,” Chester said.
“In our school alone, we have a lot of struggling teachers. They (the students) don't have all the skills in place, so it's a lot harder.”
She added many parents don't help their children with school work, which causes students to constantly fall behind.
“A lot of kids do not have the extra support at home. You're dealing with a lot of parents that aren't as supportive of education,” Chester said. “Yet, you're expecting them (teachers) to work with each individual child too. Most parents want that.”
Superintendent Carolyn Ross said those are problems teachers face, but teachers also have more resources than before.
“We have much more research and we are much more skilled. The professional development and assistance to schools is greater than ever before,” Ross said. “We can deal with it using the very best tools. Even if the parents aren't as present or as involved.”
Chester said teachers also struggle with Adequate Yearly Progress requirements, which Chester said the federal government raises every other year, creating unachievable goals.
“It would be a lot different if we didn't have to meet AYP,” Chester said. “They're expecting these kids to do math and read at higher levels than we've ever had, but we're not doing anything to ensure that.”
Meihack said he didn't want to begin another debate when asked about AYP.
“No matter what I say the association and other members of the association are going to argue,” Meihack said.
Chester said she understands the recession has hindered the school district to an extent, but there is approximately $1.2 million more in the unreserved ending fund balance than anticipated for the 08-09 year.
“The most important place in which to direct the extra funds, without question, should be directly to the education of our children,” Chester said.
Meihack said there is a possibility that left over money from the 2009 budget could be used to add new teachers. However, he thinks it is unlikely because the state may ask for money back, something that will be determined at a state legislature special session in December.
Board vice president Ron Evans said he thinks the district should use this money regardless.
“We had a 13 percent ending fund balance. The state recommends four to eight,” Evans said. “We have money right now. We have classes that are too big. Those are concrete things. We have to go with what we have, not what might be.”
Gent said considerations for using leftover funds from the budget will be discussed at the next school board meeting on Dec. 10, at which time he hopes the district and CCEA can work together.
“My job is to make sure we get that team building here,” Gent said. “I've got to get both sides together so everybody can hear everybody's sides, so we can move toward a common goal of student achievement.”
