Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 10, 1994 TAG: 9406170089
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: |By JOEL TURNER| |STAFF WRITER|
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The temporary classrooms will be located at Fallon Park, Garden City and Westside elementary schools.
Each school will have three modular classrooms.
The classrooms will cost $140,106; they will be installed in August.
As a condition to receive the money, the School Board must reduce the size of classes in kindergarten through the third grade in schools with large numbers of at-risk students.
In schools where more than 50 percent of the students receive free or reduced-price lunches, the ratio is to be 18 students for each teacher.
In schools where the number of students qualifying for subsidized meals is between 25 and 50 percent, the ratio must be 20 to 1.
School officials said some classes now have about 21 students.
In addition to buying the modular classrooms, school officials will have to use some existing classrooms that either are vacant or used for special activities such as art and music.
School officials are hiring 25 new teachers to help reduce class sizes.
Some other city schools already have modular classrooms.
Richard Kelley, assistant superintendent for business and operations, said the classrooms have worked well.
Educators say small classes help at-risk children because teachers can give more attention to each student.
by CNB