Record Student Numbers In Hermiston

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By Kyle Trompeter

Story Published: Sep 3, 2009 at 5:38 PM PDT

HERMISTON - The classes are jam packed at Rocky Heights Elementary School.

“We're up to 19 certified staff. We still have an average of 28 kids per classroom. Last year, our average was 25. So we are up three per room,” said Rocky Heights Principal, BJ Wilson.

There are more than 5,000 students in Hermiston’s district. That’s 300 more kids compared to last year, and well over 400 kindergartners.

“Kindergarten is the most difficult because when they come in, this is their first experience in school. They don't know how to sit in desks and rows and put their name on top of the paper. So we flood teachers into the kindergartens the first few weeks of school for that very reason,” said Wilson.

Another concern is the injection of extra students as the district nurses a smaller staff. 50 positions were cut from last year.

“They are feeling squeezed, especially in the upper grades. Fourth grade is averaging 29 students per class. Fifth grade is at 30. So they are hanging in there but it's rough because 30 kids in class are about the max,” said Wilson.

So what do they do when class sizes get to the dreaded 30? The answer is send kids to other schools.

“We will ‘cap that school’. Any new kids into that school will get transported and have the opportunity to go to another school that has class sizes below that level,” said Assistant Superintendent, Wade Smith.

For now, the district will continue to absorb the enrollment hit and keep moving forward.

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