Fewer students force schools to eliminate some teachers

By WILL STEWART / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

PIERCE

Warren County Schools will lose seven teaching positions after a drop in student enrollment caused the state to reduce the county’s funding for the upcoming school year.

“But there will be no layoffs,” assured school system human resources director Roy Pierce. “This year we’ve had enough retirements and people to quit that we’ll be able to take care of the loss through attrition.”

The move will result, however, in larger student-to-teacher ratios, particularly in the middle and high school grades. The lower elementary grades, by state law, must maintain 20-to-1 classroom ratios.

Student enrollment is one of the main factors of the Better Education Program, the state’s school funding formula. Because the school system’s enrollment decreased by 154 students during the 2002-2003 school year, a corresponding number of teaching positions had to be cut.

While this will result in larger classrooms, Pierce noted the student-to-teacher ratios will still be below the state maximum next year. This is a result, he said, of the school system totally funding several positions in order to keep ratios lower than required in past years.

Though no current teachers will be losing their jobs, Pierce did say the loss of positions will adversely affect a number of individuals who have submitted applications to teach within the local system. Pierce said he has about 50 applications for elementary positions and around 40 applications for secondary positions.