Class size reductions funded

Alleghany County will receive $36,522 to help hire additional teachers to help reduce class size, according to a news release from U.S. Senator John Edwards.

The money is to help reduce class sizes to a nationwide average of 18 pupils in first, second and third grade classrooms.

Alleghany is to receive the $36,522 from a total of $26.7 million that will be distributed among North Carolina schools. One of the school systems slated to receive the biggest chunk of the $26.7 million is the Triad school system.

Edwards stated that he would like to help schools hire 100,000 new teachers and reduce class size in the crucial early grades.

"It has to be used in kindergarten through second grades," said Sally Chitwood of the Alleghany County School System. "Of these three grades, our second grades are the largest," said Chitwood.

The money would be beneficial in hiring part-time position teachers to help throughout the school year, instead of paying for a full-time teacher's position.

The Alleghany County Schools' second grade class has about 130 students enrolled in the three elementary schools, according to Chitwood. Alleghany County Schools' allocated amount is one of the smallest distributed in North Carolina as part of the nationwide initiative.

According to a news release, Sen. Edwards is in favor of modernizing school buildings, putting computers in more classrooms and providing expanded after-school programs in public education. Edwards discussed reducing class size after he made a visit to Moore Elementary School.

The extra money will be available for the fiscal year 2000. The money was apparently distributed based on school size.

Some neighboring counties will be receiving part of the $26.7 million too.

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Email: allnews@ls.net