AG parent asks board to reduce class size
MASONTOWN – A Smithfield woman asked the Albert Gallatin Area School Board Wednesday to find a way to reduce the large class sizes in the first grade at Smithfield Elementary School. Kelli Ash said there are 26 students in each of the two first-grade classes, with three teachers assigned to that grade.
“That is too many in a classroom to foster appropriate learning,” she said. “Children are under so much pressure to be at the top of their games.”
Ash said she wondered how much individual time students will have with teachers because of the large numbers and asked the board and superintendent Walter Vicinelly to address the problem there.
“Look into expanding, redistricting or another solution,” she said. “Our children deserve the best education we can give them.”
Vicinelly said the board has been apprised of the large class sizes at Smithfield Elementary’s first grade, noting they are the largest classes in any elementary school in the district.
He said he is looking to the costs associated with bringing another modular classroom to the building, adding to the two that are already on site.
“We will continue to look at all the different options,” he said. “Right now, all of our spaces are filled because of our smaller class sizes.”
Vicinelly said the district’s long-term plan to build a new A.L. Wilson Elementary School will add space to the district’s overall capacity and will give the administration an opportunity to look at reassigning students by attendance area.
He said the district is awaiting approval from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to approve the site that has been selected by the district to build the new school.
In another matter, the board approved an agreement with Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus for dual enrollment courses.
Vicinelly said the district, and others in Fayette County, are entering into agreements with higher education institutions in the area to provide high school students an opportunity to take college-level courses and receive college credit while they are still in high school.
He said a list of courses will be available for the spring semester, and noted the district could receive funds for the dual enrollment effort from Gov. Ed Rendell’s Project 720 high school reform initiative.
In personnel moves, the board hired LeAndra Kiger as a library aide at Friendship Hill Elementary School, hired Greg Smodic as head ninth-grade football coach and Ben Lemansky as assistant ninth-grade football coach.
Directors also voted to create and post a one-year assistant football coach position at A.G. North Middle School.
The board also voted to accepted the resignation of board member Joseph Panek Jr., effective Wednesday, and voted to advertise for applicants to fill the board vacancy.
Any qualified elector wishing to take the seat should submit a statement of qualifications on or before Oct. 5. On that date, the board will hold a special meeting at 7 p.m. at Masontown Elementary School to interview applicants and fill the vacant seat. “I want to thank Mr. Panek for his years of service on the Albert Gallatin School Board and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” Vicinelly said.