A Heights student sits against the wall because the classroom doesn't have room for additional desks.
Bond issue addresses district growth and smaller class sizes
The biggest critical need in the $370 million bond issue is to reduce class size and address overcrowding and growth in key areas of our community. The bond plan will add 6 new schools; provide 275 classrooms to address growth, over-crowding, special programs and class size reduction; reconstruct two inadequate buildings; and renovate or expand critical program space. The district has also added programs like all-day kindergarten, which has increased the number of classrooms being used across the district.
On Sept. 22, the Board of Education heard a presentation on population growth and the projected effect on Wichita school enrollment and class size, which can be viewed by clicking here.
Growth in certain areas in the city, especially the northeast and southeast areas, has led to major over-crowding in elementary, middle and high schools in these areas. There are 2,000 lots platted around both Heights High School and Seltzer Elementary, waiting for houses to be built on them.
“It’s not a question of whether they’ll build, it’s a question of whether we’ll have the classrooms,” Facilities Director Dave Johnson told the BOE.
Heights has seen its population rise for the past several years. The majority of the school’s core classes have more than 30 students. Many classrooms are small, so the students are pushed up against walls or don’t sit in desks because there isn’t enough room for the additional desks. Sixteen teachers work off of utility carts because they don’t have a permanent classroom.
One Heights teacher doesn’t have a planning period in order to teach an additional physics class. Last school year, the physics classes had more than 40 students. But even with the additional class, the classes still have more than 30 students.
"We have great teachers and great programs. Our students deserve to have the best learning environment possible and an overcrowded school is not the best environment for learning," Heights principal Bruce Deterding said.
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| Seltzer Elementary added portables in 2007 to accommodate overcrowding. Photos by Susan Arensman |
Rapid growth in southeast Wichita caused Seltzer Elementary to add three portables in 2007 to house three of the school’s four fifth-grade classes.
Seltzer’s computer lab is now being used as two classrooms. The gifted teacher is located in the library’s office and three special education teachers and seven special education paraeducators are sharing one classroom.
“I’ve used every imaginable space in my school and I’m out of room,” said Seltzer principal Denise Spurlock.
Growth can be seen in other areas of Wichita as well. Older families are moving out and younger families are moving into those neighborhoods. Linwood Elementary, which was rebuilt in 2004, is a big draw for families with young children. Linwood’s art and music teachers are on a cart and beginning strings is held in the school’s atrium because they don’t have enough classrooms.
In south Wichita, Woodman Elementary has 711 students this year. The biggest increase is in kindergarten, where the average class size is 25 students.
“We have a lot of younger families moving into our neighborhood. It’s wonderful that they’re moving in, but I wish we had more room,” said Jana Epperly, principal at Woodman.
Smaller class sizes make a difference
The district has made a significant commitment to class size reduction, which supports increased student achievement. Smaller class sizes help teachers provide more individualized instruction for students who may be struggling. It also provides more opportunities for small-group activities and helps with discipline.
Georgia Flood, fourth-grade teacher at Chisholm Trail Elementary, has 28 students in her classroom, eight more than last year.
“It doesn’t matter the number of students, I will still work hard to help them learn, but it takes a lot more time and resources to reach all 28,” Flood said.
Smaller class sizes also allow teachers to build better relationships with students and their families.
“The connectedness between the school and the families is very important to a student’s success in school,” said Chisholm Trail principal Susan Hussey.
Most of the new additions that will be built in the bond issue will also double as FEMA safe room storm shelters.
Other critical needs of the bond issue are to add 60 safe rooms, support the end to forced busing, upgrade technical education programs and renovate or rebuild aging and unsafe physical education, athletic and fine arts facilities.
More information about the bond issue can be found on the Wichita Public Schools' website.
It's about Our Kids, Our Schools and Our Future!
September 29, 2008