Smaller class sizes proposed for Jackson, Wilson schools
JANESVILLE — The two Janesville elementary schools with the largest populations of low-income students might get some extra help next school year.
Jackson and Wilson schools already have student-teacher ratios of 15-to-1 in kindergarten through third grade. That's paid for by the state's Student Achievement Guarantee in Education program, known as SAGE.
But there's no state funding to help the fourth and fifth grades, which have a maximum of 30 students per class under school board policy.
Board member Tim Cullen suggested two weeks ago that the smaller class sizes be expanded at Wilson. That got some Jackson teachers interested in the idea, and they contacted board member Peggy Sheridan.
Sheridan proposed Tuesday that both schools get extra staffing to make all the grades "SAGE-like."
Sheridan's proposal also calls for a new teacher to expand the 4-year-old kindergarten at Jackson.
All the new hires could be funded by reallocating federal Title 1 money, officials said, so no additional local property tax dollars would be needed. The Title 1 grant is intended to help areas with high poverty rates.
The board voted not to include this idea in the teacher-staffing plan that it approved Tuesday, but board members seemed interested in bringing the ideas back to the table later in the budget process.
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Apr 30, 2009 at 12:37 p.m.
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mrbread, thank you for pointing that out, but no, i didn't miss anything. yes, some kids need extra help. actually, all kids need extra help to succeed to their fullest potential. I understand that those that come from certain sectors of a given population are at a grave disadvantage. so, how do you explain a wealthy child who has an undiagnosed learning disability that falls through the cracks and ends up having kids of their own to qualify for the 'special kids programs?'
Apr 30, 2009 at 11:31 a.m.
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Prevention, I think what you missed is these schools have a high percentage of students that come from backgrounds that qualify of them as being disadvantaged and many have undoubtedly been identified as high risk. The extra support, as current research indicates, is essential to the success of groups of students who fall into these categories. Proactive approach.
Apr 30, 2009 at 11:08 a.m.
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"At every school - not just a select few." That would be FANTASTIC!
Apr 30, 2009 at 11:08 a.m.
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Hmmm, this hasn't always been the case? Sounds to me like someone has fallen down on the job. It is the job of the school district and school board to be sure that their own policies are enforced at ALL schools within the district's boundaries. Is there something I missed?
Apr 30, 2009 at 10:39 a.m.
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At every school - not just a select few.
Apr 30, 2009 at 8:15 a.m.
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Everything I have read in the last 40 years indicates that the number one key to student achievement is lower class sizes. Lets hope that the Board is wise enough to read the research.
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