Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
NORTH MANCHESTER - Parents complained to the Manchester school board about large class sizes in both elementary schools' fourth and fifth grades.
Manchester Elementary School's two fourth grade classes have 27 and 28 students and the same numbers in its two fifth grade classes, Manchester principal Bonnie Ingraham said.
Laketon Elementary School's fourth grade class has 29 students, and the two fifth grade classes have 26 and 24 students, Laketon principal Denny Craft said.
Other elementary class sizes were not a concern.
Fourth and fifth grades have "co-teachers" or instructional assistants in the classrooms. Assistants stay in the classes most of the day, Ingraham said.
Teachers also use empty classrooms for students needing extra help, she said.
Several parents were concerned about the Gemini program's size. Gemini has 22 students in the one third and fourth grade class. The class has 11 third graders and 11 fourth graders, Craft said.
The school board retained the Gemini program this summer after rounding up a minimum student number.
It will be reassessed and re-examined with the schools' reconfiguration in 2003-2004, Craft said.
In other business, the school board:
• Approved the transfer of $81,563 from the transportation fund to the general fund. The state is allowing the unusual transaction because it cannot supply full funding to school corporations this school year.
• Approved purchasing two school buses for $106,243. One bus is equipped with a wheelchair lift.
The school board members present were: vice president Todd Speicher, secretary Brad Perrott, Larry Miller, Thom Frantz, Kent Terrill and Caryle McLaughlin. Acting superintendent is Kim Thurston and school corporation attorney is Al Schlitt. President Sally Krouse was absent.
