Connellsville school closing proposals detailed
The Connellsville Area School District’s proposal to close as many as four of its eight elementary schools would result in smaller class sizes in the schools that would remain open, according to the administration.
District administrators and school board members presented information about the possible closings at hearings required by the Pennsylvania School Code. The code requires districts to hold public hearings at least 90 days before voting.
Superintendent Phillip Martell and other administrators displayed the information and responded to questions from residents and staff at two meetings this week. The third and final meeting is scheduled from 7 p.m. Monday at Dunbar Borough Elementary School.
Under consideration is closing Dunbar Borough Elementary School and sending those students to Dunbar Township Elementary School; closing Clifford N. Pritts Elementary School and sending those students to Springfield Township Elementary School; closing South Side Elementary and sending those students to West Crawford Elementary; and closing Connellsville Township Elementary and sending those students to Bullskin Township Elementary.
Closing Connellsville Township Elementary, which has 131 students in kindergarten through fifth grade, and sending those students to Bullskin Township Elementary, which had 309 students in November, is one of the scenarios.
Enrollment in Bullskin Township Elementary includes 43 students in two kindergarten classes with 21.5 students in each class; 47 students in two first-grade classes with 23.5 students in each class; 59 students in two second-grade classes with 29.5 students in each class, 48 students in two third-grade classes with 24 students per class; 58 students in two fourth-grade classes with 29 students per class; and 54 students in two fifth-grade classes with 27 students per class. Two teachers are assigned to each grade.
After closing Connellsville Township Elementary, Bullskin Township Elementary’s kindergarten would have 61 students in three classes with 20.3 students per class; first grade would have 69 students in three classes with 23 per class; second grade would have 81 students in three classes with 27 per class; third grade would have 72 students in three classes with 24 per class; fourth grade would have 85 students in three classes with 28.3 per class; and fifth grade would have 73 students in three classes with 24.3 per class. Each grade would have three teachers.
The average class size would decrease from 25.75 this year to 24.5 next year. When other teachers such as a guidance counselor, itinerant teachers and computer and speech specialists are added to the equation, the average class size would be 16.91, according to the district.
Closing Dunbar Borough Elementary School, which has 181 students in grades K-5 this year, and sending those students to Dunbar Township Elementary, which had 471 students in November, is another possible scenario spelled out the the administration.
Enrollment at Dunbar Township Elementary includes 80 kindergarten students in three classes with 26.6 students per class; 84 first-grade students in four classes with 21 per class; 58 second-grade students in three classes with 19.3 per class; 86 third-grade students in three classes with 28.6 per class; 72 fourth-grade students in three classes with 24 per class; 91 fifth-grade students in four classes with 22.75 per class.
After closing Dunbar Borough Elementary, Dunbar Township Elementary’s kindergarten would have 101 students in five classes with 20.2 students per class; first grade would have 108 students in five classes with 21.6 per class; second grade would have 71 students in three classes with 23.6 per class; third grade would have 111 students in five classes with 22.2 per class; fourth grade would have 100 students in four classes with 25 per class; and fifth grade would have 109 students in four classes with 27.25 per class.
The average class size would decrease from 23.55 to 23.08 number of teachers would increase from 20 to 26, according to the district. After other teachers are added to the equation, the average class size would be 13.24., according to the district.
Closing Pritts Elementary, which has 181 students in grades K-5 this year, and sending those students to Springfield Township Elementary, which had 250 students in November, is among the district’s proposed scenarios.
Enrollment at Springfield Township includes 42 kindergarten students in two classes with 21 students per class; 49 first-grade students in two classes with 24.5 per class; 38 students in two second-grade classes with 19 per class; 35 third-grade students in two classes with 17.5 per class; 47 fourth-grade students in two classes with 23.5 per class; 39 fifth-grade students in two classes with 19.5 per class.
After closing Pritts, Springfield’s kindergarten would have 63 students in three classes with 21 students per class; first grade would have 71 students in three classes with 23.6 per class; second grade would have 65 students in three classes with 21.6 per class; third grade would have 64 students in three classes with 21.3 per class; fourth grade would have 71 students in three classes with 23.6 per class; and fifth grade would have 62 students in three classes with 20.6 per class.
The average class size would increase from 20.83 to 22 and the number of teachers would increase from 12 to 18. When other teachers are added, the average class size would be 17.1, according to the district.
Closing South Side Elementary School, which has 262 students in grades K-5, and sending those students to West Crawford Elementary, which had 278 students in November, is the last proposal.
Enrollment at West Crawford includes 49 kindergarten students in two classes with 24.5 students per class; 54 first-grade students in two classes with 27 per class; 40 second-grade students in two classes with 20 per class; 45 third-grade students in two classes with 22.5 per class; 50 fourth-grade students in two classes with 25 per class; and 40 fifth-grade students in two classes with 20 per class.
After closing South Side, West Crawford’s kindergarten would have 94 students in four classes with 23.5 students per class; first grade would have 90 students in four classes with 22.5 per class; second grade would have 90 students in four classes with 22.5 per class; third grade would have 83 students in four classes with 20.75 per class; fourth grade would have 96 students in four classes with 24 per class; and fifth grade would have 86 students in four classes with 21.5 per class.
The average class size would decrease from 23.1 to 22.4 and the number of teachers would increase from 12 to 24.
After other teachers are added to the equation, the average class size would be 16.29, according to the district.