Published March 11, 2010
Board takes first look at estimated
class size, staffing needs for 2010
By Pamela Lannom
plannom@thehinsdalean.com
The number of certified staff
members in Community Consolidated Elementary District
181 is expected to shrink slightly for the 2010-11
school year.
The preliminary recommendation
was presented at Monday night’s board meeting. Associate
Superintendent Mary Ticknor emphasized that the
enrollment and staffing figures are early projections.
“I will underline and
reiterate and bold face the word estimate,” she said.
Total enrollment for 2010-11
is expected to be 3,896. Monroe and Prospect are the
largest elementary schools with 443 students each. Elm
is the smallest at 224.
Elm also has the smallest
projected class sizes. Estimates show two first-grade
classes of 14 students each, one kindergarten section
with 14 and another with 15.
The largest classes are in
fifth grade at Madison School, with three sections of 27
students each.
“There’s a possibility that
enrollment may increase,” Ticknor said. “I also believe
there’s been some pending enrollment at The Lane as
well.”
Hinsdale Middle School expects
767 students for the upcoming school year, and Clarendon
Hills Middle School anticipates 626. There will be an
average of eight sections for each grade level at CHMS
and 10 at HMS, Ticknor said.
Class size guidelines were
strictly followed in preparing the report, Ticknor said.
The maximum is 26 students for kindergarten through
third-grade classes and 27 for fourth- and fifth-grade
classes.
Projections call for staff
reductions of the equivalent of 4.38 full-time teachers
in general education at the elementary and middle
schools. The board agreed to eliminate the positions
earlier this year as part of $1.8 million in budget
cuts.
Another 5.8 FTEs are “in
contingency” and may be needed based on enrollment,
scheduling or other factors, Ticknor said Tuesday.
“I think we will end up using
most, if not all, of that 5.8,” she said.
Julie Liesse, parent of a
sixth-grader and vice president of the PTO at HMS, spoke
during the public comment portion of the meeting about
class size at the middle school. Next year the school
will feel the full impact of the board’s decision two
years ago to redistrict students from The Lane, who had
attended CHMS, to HMS.
“On behalf of our children, I
hope that you will be an advocate for them as the plan
is set for next year to ensure HMS students a quality
level of education worthy of District 181 with enough
teachers, space and resources to make that happen,” she
said.
District leaders also have
received a petition from parents of third-graders at The
Lane asking for an additional section. The
recommendation now shows two sections at 26 and one at
25.
Staffing for special education
teachers and social workers will be presented later this
spring.