$1.00 INCL GST
Division hires additional teachers
By
Staff reporter
A number of part-time and full-time teachers were recently hired to accommodate the estimated 250 new students in Okotoks public schools.
The Foothills School Division (FSD) reported a 7.44-per-cent growth in the Okotoks area at its board meeting held Sept. 4, however, the High River and the High Country regions both had 1.38-per-cent fewer students in the first week of school.
Jay Pritchard, associate superintendent with the board, said through discussions with Okotoks school principals last week it was determined that four full-time and two part-time teachers needed to be hired.
Okotoks Junior High School (OJHS) received two new full-time teachers who will teach Grade 7 and 9 classes. OJHS posted the second highest growth with 75 new students. Two portables are also being brought in from High River schools to add needed classroom space to the junior high.
Dr. Morris Gibson School received one full-time and one part-time teacher, Percy Pegler School received one full-time teacher and Big Rock School added a part-time teacher to their staff.
Lori Czerwinski, school board trustee for Okotoks, expressed concern at the board meeting over high pupil to teacher ratios (PTRs) in Okotoks schools.
She said ideally the ratio should be at around 16 students to one teacher, whereas, in the most extreme case, Dr. Morris Gibson School had a PTR of 22 students to one teacher.
Czerwinski pointed out that the ratio does not realistically reflect class size because the provincial government mandates that all certified teachers in the school, including principals and special program teachers such as music teachers, be included with classroom teachers in the ratio.
'The PTR is always smaller than the actual class sizes,' Czerwinski explained. 'I think that a PTR of 18 (students) means your class sizes are too high because then there are over 30 students in a classroom.'
With the hiring of additional teachers two of the school's PTRs dropped to just over 20 students to one teacher while the other two are sitting at 18.6 and 18.9 students to one teacher.
In Okotoks, Big Rock School was the only public school to have fewer students this
Current Weather in Okotoks
Solemn remembrance
- photo by Cindy Ballance
|
In this issue... |
||
|
Opinion Editorial Paul's Place News Sports Entertainment Movies Classified Ads Real Estate  Fall Home Improvement See this week's printed issue |
 Community runs for Terry Fox See this week's printed issue  Knights run over Hanna in season opener See Sports |
|
|
|
||
