Schools need more space for students
Updated: October 10, 2012
CHAMPAIGN -- The school district is preparing for more students. That's because kindergarten enrollment has been going up the past few years. Right now there are about 870 kindergarteners signed up throughout the district, which is more than the elementary schools can hold.
"I really like this age student. They're so enthused about coming to school," said Anne Roth.
She's been teaching kindergarten for more than 20 years.
"They've got to finish kindergarten and feel like learners and feel like, 'I can do this,' and that it's fun to do it. That's a lot of pressure but its kind of awe-inspiring also," said Roth.
But with more students registering for class, "It means that their time has to be cut in some way," said Roth.
"We are up 200 students more than we were last year," said Sue Grey.
She's School Board President and is working with other members to help accommodate all students. Option one assumes the large class size is a one-time thing.
"This group would kind of bubble though K-5 and then fold into the middle school," said Grey.
Option two assumes the growing numbers are a trend and would turn Bottenfield and Robeson into "four strand" schools.
"That means we would have four kindergarten classes, four first grades, second grades, third grades and on up," said Grey.
It's an idea that would keep kindergarten and first grade classes smaller, which means more one-on-one time with Ms. Roth.
"They're young and they need that extra attention and we want to start them off right and with lots of support because they need it," said Grey.
"You can make it the best thing for them. I mean, that's really the goal," said Roth.
The "'four strand" option would cost somewhere between $2 million - $6 million in renovations. The school board has until Monday to decide.
"I really like this age student. They're so enthused about coming to school," said Anne Roth.
She's been teaching kindergarten for more than 20 years.
"They've got to finish kindergarten and feel like learners and feel like, 'I can do this,' and that it's fun to do it. That's a lot of pressure but its kind of awe-inspiring also," said Roth.
But with more students registering for class, "It means that their time has to be cut in some way," said Roth.
"We are up 200 students more than we were last year," said Sue Grey.
She's School Board President and is working with other members to help accommodate all students. Option one assumes the large class size is a one-time thing.
"This group would kind of bubble though K-5 and then fold into the middle school," said Grey.
Option two assumes the growing numbers are a trend and would turn Bottenfield and Robeson into "four strand" schools.
"That means we would have four kindergarten classes, four first grades, second grades, third grades and on up," said Grey.
It's an idea that would keep kindergarten and first grade classes smaller, which means more one-on-one time with Ms. Roth.
"They're young and they need that extra attention and we want to start them off right and with lots of support because they need it," said Grey.
"You can make it the best thing for them. I mean, that's really the goal," said Roth.
The "'four strand" option would cost somewhere between $2 million - $6 million in renovations. The school board has until Monday to decide.
