Split class debated at Willow Elementary

Because of declining enrollment at Willow Elementary School, the Las Virgenes Unified School District last week discussed combining fourth and fifth grades into one classroom, although the idea was strongly opposed by parents.

In light of the state budget crisis and a waning student count, there will be two fourth-grade classes, two fifth-grade classes and one class with both grades for the 2008-09 academic year.

Sandi Pope, a fifth-grade teacher, told parents of the Agoura Hills school that because of the proposed budget cuts the district was unable to hire another teacher to prevent the combination class.

"The district is short $2.5 million," Pope said. "There is no way, shape or form that this meeting tonight is about organizing parents to go beat on the school board to give us an additional teacher. The money is not there."

The district said the combined class could be avoided if 10 more students enrolled.

"The formula given by the district in every elementary school (to determine teacher count) is the student population divided by 30.5," fifth-grade teacher Jeremy Janton said.

According to the district's formula, the school could have six teachers instead of five if it had a total of 175 students in grades four and five. Currently there are 166 students.

"We need 10 students to enroll in fourth and fifth grade next year, and by sheer number, it's done," Janton said.

Raising funds among the Parent-Faculty Association was also discussed at the June 3 meeting, but the donations may not be permitted due to the current gift policy in the district.

"The gift policy (says that) PFAs can donate money to the district, and then the district will divvy out money where they want to divvy it," Pope said. "We're suggesting a possible alternative to buy another teacher."

If each of the school's 166 families donated $390, there would be enouhg money to afford an additional teacher. The school board would have to use the funds strictly for Willow Elementary School.

Maura Lucus, a fourth-grade teacher, expressed her uneasiness about combining the two grades into a single classroom.

"I have some concerns about the developmental capabilities and the impact on the students who are ready to move on and take on additional responsibilities," Lucus said. "It's important to make sure they are getting the time and support that they need from the teacher."

One advantage to having a split class would be combining students with similar abilities from both grades into the same classroom. Some teachers opposed the idea.

"The district is claiming that it's okay to have a split class because the teacher who gets the split class gets all the most independent students, and I find fault in that logic," Pope said. "You're talking about a split with 8- to 12-year-olds in one class."

Under the current policy, the split class will be unavoidable unless more funds can be obtained or enrollment increases.

"The state budget is in the toilet and we have declining enrollment," Pope said. "That is considered a perfect storm in education. This is the worst-case scenario in education, and we're sitting right in the middle of it. This is why we are here tonight and we're not taking a seat on the bus. We're not going down without a fight."