JACKSON TO SHIFT FIRST GRADE SECTIONS

JACKSON -- The Jackson School District will move two, and possibly three sections of first grade from Orchard Elementary School to the Primary Annex when the 1994-95 school year begins in late August.

Superintendent Wayne Maupin said the move will free up needed classroom space at Orchard and help reduce the increasing teacher-pupil ratio in the primary grade classrooms.

Maupin said the increased enrollment is due to an influx each year of new students into the Jackson school system.

"Certainly it's a challenge to the district and the school board, but it's a challenge we don't mind, because it clearly shows we're a growing school district," said Maupin.

He said the Jackson school district gains 75 to 120 new students each year, most of them in the primary and elementary grades.

"We've already hired two new elementary teachers for these new (first grade) positions, and there is a possibility we may hire two more," Maupin said. "We may also move another section of first grade to the primary annex.

"We'll discuss the moves at Tuesday's school board meeting," he added. "At that time, we will also recommend to the board that two more elementary classroom teachers be hired to keep pace with our rising enrollments."

Enrollment projections presented at the last school board meeting for grades K-6 for the 1994-95 school year indicate many of the district's elementary grades will be approaching 300 students each.

"Keep in mind that no growth is factored into the projections," said Maupin. "The numbers reflect only the students who are in the classroom right now. However, we know that by the time school starts next August there will be an increase in these projected numbers as more families move into our district during the year."

According to the projections, if no new students enroll between now and August, there will be 282 first grade students; 263 second grade students; 283 third grade students; 247 fourth grade students; 259 fifth grade students; and 281 sixth grade students enrolled in the Jackson school system.

With those numbers, Maupin said the pupil-teacher ratio is already at or above the maximum desired 1 to 25 ratio in many of the primary and upper level elementary school classrooms.

"We'd really like to see (ratios) in the mid to low 20s," said Maupin. "Right now, nine of the 13 grades in the school district are just below the recommended pupil-teacher ratio."

When Orchard Elementary School opened four years ago, the district was able to reduce class size below the 1:25 ratio. "That lasted about 1-2 years before the growth factor caught up with us and the numbers began to creep up to where they are now," said Maupin.

"I talked to an aldermen recently, and was told there were seven new subdivisions approved last year. Those subdivisions are going to have homes with young children who will attend Jackson school. So we've got that to look forward to."

According to the 1994-95 enrollment projections, there will be at least 26 first graders in seven of the eight sections of first grade at Orchard Elementary, and 25 students each in the first grade classes at Gordonville, North Elementary, and Millersville.

In the second grade, the projections indicate there will be at least 25 students in each of two of the eight sections of second grade at Orchard Elementary. The other six classes will have 24 students. Class size at Gordonville, North, and Millersville all will be below 25.

In the third grade, seven of the eight sections at Orchard Elementary will have at least 26 students in each class, and one section will have 25 students. Gordonville and North Elementary will have 25 students each and Millersville, 27 students.

In the fourth grade, two of the eight sections at Orchard Elementary will have 26 students. The rest will have 25 students each. North Elementary will have 22, and Millersville, 23 fourth graders.

In the fifth grade at West Lane Elementary School, one section will have at least 27 students, while the other seven sections will have at least 26 students per class. North Elementary will have 27 students, and Burfordville, 23 students.

The greatest number of students per classroom this fall is in the sixth grade at West Lane, where four of the eight sections will have at least 30 students, and 26 students in the other four sections. North Elementary will have at least 27 fifth grade students, and Burfordville, 18 fifth graders.

Maupin said the actual enrollment in each grade will not be determined until mid-August, when growth can be factored.

Maupin said during the past four years, enrollment in each of grades K-6 has increased from an average of 250 at the start of the 1990-91 school year to between 275-300 students on Sept. 8, 1993.

Maupin said moving two or three sections of first grade from Orchard Elementary to the Primary Annex will free up several classrooms to allow more space for the second and third grades at Orchard. That in turn will fill all of the classrooms at Orchard Elementary School, which was opened four years ago this fall.

"Unfortunately, there isn't much we can do about the sixth grade until the new middle school is opened sometime in 1995," Maupin said. "We will meet with the architect later this month for an update on the construction schedule for the new school. We hope the opening of the middle school can be moved up from August 1995."

Moving two or three sections of first grade to the primary annex will create still another dilemma for Maupin. Although there is only one kindergarten class at the annex right now, four other classrooms are currently used for other instructional purposes. One classroom is used for storage.

"When we move the sections of first grade to the annex, we're going to have to find space for the instructional program going on in the other four classrooms," he said.

Maupin said the opening of the middle school next year will relieve overcrowded classroom conditions at West Lane Elementary and at the R.O. Hawkins Junior High School.

"That, plus relocating sections of first grade to the Primary Annex should give us and the board some breathing room for a few years as far as grades 4-9," he said. "I don't know how many years we'll have, but during that time we must turn our attention to the growth in the primary grades, K-3, and at the high school, where we're going to have to do something about the inadequate math and science facilities there."