Class size a concern in Jackson election

The Jackson School District faces growing enrollment and class size issues, school board candidates say.

Some elementary school classrooms already are crowded. The school board within the next several years may consider constructing a new elementary school, said board member Gerald Adams, who is seeking re-election to a fourth three-year term.

But at least two of the four candidates aren't ready to embrace such a project just yet.

Candidate Brian Dameron said, "I know we have a lot of students going to the Jackson R-2 School District. But I don't think they necessarily need to spend money on another elementary school. I don't feel there is a need for it currently."

Candidate Marc Harris said the district may need a new elementary school some day, but that school officials need to first use the district's current resources.

Marc Harris

"Our district must be accountable to the great people of Jackson for every dollar spent, for every building built and every position filled," said the 37-year-old insurance broker.

The fourth candidate, retired Jackson teacher Dan Stover, who operates an auction service, declined to be interviewed.

But at a recent candidates forum, Stover, who taught for 27 years in the Jackson school system, said the district will have to build new schools if enrollment continues to grow.

The four candidates are vying for two seats on the school board. The board will have at least one new face after Tuesday's election. Board member Jim Woeltje isn't seeking re-election.

Adams said school officials have looked at facility needs. The district purchased 15 acres on Lacey Street seven years ago as a future site for an elementary school. Adams said the transaction was a good one because the developer paid the cost of building a street and bringing utilities to the site.

Adams, who has served nine years on the school board, said he hopes the district could build a new elementary school without a bond issue or tax increase.

The district currently is making payments on the lease-purchase debt incurred in building the middle school. "In the next couple of years we will have it pretty well paid off," he said, freeing up money that could be used to pay on new debt should the district enter into a lease-purchase arrangement to build a new elementary school.

Adams said the district's enrollment has been growing, experiencing a 2 percent increase this year.

Class size is a major concern to Adams and Harris. At the candidates forum, Stover also talked about the issue. Larger class sizes hamper education, Stover said.

Adams said, "We are so crowded in the elementary levels that our computer labs have been put on wheels." The computers have to be moved around because schools don't have room to dedicate permanent space for computer labs, he said.

The district, he said, will need to hire more teachers and try to find added space to keep class sizes down.

Lower class sizes mean more opportunity for teachers to provide one-on-one instruction to students, Adams said. "That translates into more learning," he said.

Harris said the district must address "growth" issues like class size and provide the technology needed in classrooms today.

At the forum, Stover said it's never popular to raise taxes. But he said the district would have to look at how to fund any needed school construction.

"No one likes to pay extra money," he said, "but you have to do it."

Dameron, a 28-year-old mechanical engineer, said school officials need to focus on encouraging Jackson High School graduates to enroll in college.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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