Taylor to hire more teachers in effort to reduce class sizes

Taylor School District faces deficit which forces classes to be split, crowded

TAYLOR, Mich. – In the Taylor School District some elementary students from different grade levels are in the same classroom with one teacher.

Superintendent Diane Allen says it's part of the district's deficit reduction plan.

"We are a deficit district, so we have to spend our money wisely," said Allen.

With the influx of about 250 students from the disbanded Inkster School District this school year, teachers say their class sizes have grown. And now for those teachers responsible for children in two different grade levels, it's a very difficult balancing act.

"I have 35 students in a 4/5 split. I am doing the best I can to get by it's not educationally sound for kids," said Dawn Alef, a teacher at Holland Elementary.

Tonight school board members heard from parents and teachers about overcrowding in the schools.

"All I am asking is for you to take the kids into consideration. They're young," said one parent.

The board approved Monday night the hiring of 15 teachers, positions that were eliminated last school year. It will help reduce class sizes to between 26 and 33 students.

But the split classes will remain for now because of the district's financial troubles.

"We are understand that the kids of this district are our primary focus. We also know we are being watched very closely by the state with our deficit elimination plan as you all well know, going through negotiations," said John Reilly, Taylor School Board president.