The public school system is a juxtaposition of being; it offers free education for everyone, but at the same time the divisions within the system are allocated a certain amount of tax dollars and this must be utilized in a way to ensure the best, most equal education is available to each student. A conundrum as although every school is different, the most fair way to deal with a large expanse of differing populations is to develop a formula determining student to teacher ratios.
The Manor School Community Council welcomed South East Cornerstone Public School Division’s Deputy Director Kelly Hilkewich and Superintendent of Schools East Kevin Hengen to join Principal Kelly Logan to discuss staffing concerns with the public.
Hengen presented to the community, explaining the formula the school division uses when determining how many teachers should be placed in a school for the upcoming year: “There’s a staffing process, which takes place based on the numbers of students in the school this year and the projections for next year.”
He explained that in these calculations Kindergarten students are counted as half students, one Response To Intervention teacher is needed to provide extra help, administration time is worked into the formula, unassigned time also known as prep time, and a small school factor.
Traditionally prep time has been set at 10 percent of a teacher’s schedule, but to create equity amongst all teachers across the board this has been set to seven percent.
Using this formula, before the small school factor, Manor qualifies for 4.61 teachers.
“We recognize that small schools like this [K-12] couldn’t run a program with that, so we then visit the small school factor thresholds and have determined that Manor needs 5.5 teachers next year,” Hengen added.
It’s been projected from current numbers that Manor will have 46.5 students in K-9 – Kindergarten students are considered halftime thus count as 0.5 in these calculations – which qualifies them for 3.5 teachers within the small school factor. Projected for grades 10-12 is a student population of 25, which qualifies them for 2 teachers within the small school factor. Thus, the school division has attempted to create uniformity across the division by looking at numbers of students.
Currently Manor School has 55 students in K-9, which qualifies them for 4 teachers and 30 students in 10-12, which qualifies them for 2 teachers. Thus, they will be reduced by 0.5 teachers in the elementary end.
The school division, a public entity, must operate in a way that would be fair to all schools within their jurisdiction, thus they use these formulas in each school to determine how many teachers will be needed based on projected numbers for the following year.
“We give the smallest schools the most support and Manor is our second smallest school in the division,” Hengen stated in regards to the small school factor.
By simply looking at the numbers, however, community members are upset. Voicing their concerns one individual said, “Looking at the numbers, the numbers do make sense; but, kids aren’t numbers. Each child has different needs and what if your calculations don’t work for the school?”
With what the division has set out, Logan has been working on scheduling options. Option one for the school would be to have K,1,2 in a class, grades 3-6 in a class, then grades 7/8, 9/10, and 11/12 in classes together. Option two would see K,1,2 together, grades 3,4,5 in class with each other, grades 6,7,8 together, and 9/10 and 11/12 splits.
The scheduling is a concern as well, will teachers have enough time to work with students. During the presentation one student did speak up, passionately about her situation and want to learn, “I’m smart, but I have a tough time getting out what I’m trying to say.”
She stated that she needs help writing exams, but that she feels teachers in the school often don’t have the time to dedicate to this assistance – which the numbers on the spreadsheet says should work out. She explained that the teachers do their best, but that they don’t always have the time and so she struggles. She added that she’s seen others in the school as well that need assistance, but from her perspective aren’t receiving this.
Additional assistance in a classroom such as an Educational Associate is determined based on the kinds of needs of a youth. In some cases they work one on one with a student, while other times an EA may work with multiple students. Assessments of needs are done outside of school, however, and must be identified within the school in order to look at the addition of an EA.
With the multi-class classrooms parents added that they were concerned about the high teacher turnaround in a demanding job where teachers are multi-unit planning and teaching, which burns them out quicker than in other schools. This included concerns for all extracurricular programs as well as busing schedules – members of the public claimed that when busing boundaries changed four years ago that their numbers in the school dropped.
“We’re concerned about the quality of education, the teacher turnaround, and the budget cuts; and there comes a point where you either have to close or staff it,” a community member stated. “As much as the community doesn’t want to see it closed, but when does it come down to that?”
Hilkewich answered, “We understand your frustration. For small schools we do what we can, and in Manor we’ve allocated almost a full teacher more because of the small school factor. That’s what we can do, we have seven or eight other schools with the same story, but we’re trying the best we can to utilize our resources and support small schools.”
Ultimately the numbers dictate the funding each year and this equation is used for each school in the division.
A response from the audience replied, “It feels like a losing battle. We hear about the numbers for you and you hear the heartfelt and personal from us; but, it feels like your minds are already made up… There has to be a way to look at a school on a personal level, kids aren’t textbook, they’re not numbers.”
Hengen responded by saying, “I appreciate your passion. We do the best we can to help support small schools. We’re doing the best we can with the resources we have.”
While Hilkowich added, “Teacher cuts are based solely on numbers. It’s how it’s always been and it’s a hard discussion, personal versus numbers. What we’ve done, however, is look across the school division and have made it so the same number of kids get a teacher. Relatively the same amount of students will be facing a teacher; so, although we have different grades in Manor sitting and looking at a teacher, the classroom is set up to be a classroom of a good learning size.”
They went on to say that these numbers may reflect differently in the fall and if there is an influx of students, then the formula is conducted again which may reflect in teachers needed in the school.
A different option moving forward is potentially joining in a proposition with G.F. Kells High School and Carlyle Elementary School in requesting a new school be built in Carlyle that would have K-12 students under one roof. The small Manor SCC of four parents this year were not willing to make that decision earlier this year and requested the division approach the community, as they would be in a better position to inquire with the community, to figure out what people want to see moving forward.
This process and application must take place each year, so although it wasn’t something looked at closely this year, is an option moving forward.
