More students than expected this year

NORTH CANAAN — With the school year well underway at North Canaan Elementary School, the Board of Education was busy last week organizing itself for the coming months.

Board members are looking at some ups and downs, mostly ups at this point, when it comes to funding.

Also, enrollment took an expected drop once again, but not as large a drop as predicted.

Projected enrollment was 309, down significantly from 328 as of Oct. 1 last year. On the first day of school there were 309 students, but that number had risen to 319 as of the Sept. 21 board meeting.

In terms of financing, the school budget’s health insurance line item is very healthy, a result of a change in the provider. Also, five staff members eliminated or reduced their coverage. Six teachers switched to the high-deductible health savings account option, bringing the number to nine on that premiums-saving approach. The net savings to date is $11,984.

The board also has the “task� of deciding how to spend an unexpected $84,600. The funds are part of the federal Education Jobs Fund Program, aimed at saving and creating jobs in schools. Schools have two years to spend the money, but can spend it all at once if desired.

The North Canaan board will begin discussing its options, with recommendations from Principal Rosemary Keilty, at the Oct. 14 meeting.

Keilty reported that several maintenance projects were completed over the summer. Many had to do with safety, including additional exterior lighting, new locks or changes to locks on some doors and SMART Board projectors that were ceiling mounted to eliminate cords on the floor. Keilty said a teacher was injured last year after tripping over cords.

Window blinds were replaced in five classrooms, the library and the cafeteria. New flooring was installed in two middle school classrooms, and the entire building has new hallway signs. A new master clock and PA system were installed in the office. Before basketball season starts, padding will be installed in the gym along the front of the stage.

Past hot button issues that may surface again this year include traffic/school bus safety and class sizes.

A crossing guard was reassigned late in the last school year to the crosswalk between the school and the Town Hall parking lot. That seemed to alleviate, per the resident state trooper, issues of crossing safety in the center of town. Or, at least, it relieved the town of its liability there.

But drivers at the Pease Street and Town Hall parking lot intersection are still ignoring stop signs, speed limits and the crossing guard’s signals, according to those monitoring the situation.

Class sizes were up for debate during the last couple of budget seasons, with some saying a chance to reduce expensive staffing should be taken advantage of during tough economic times.

As of Sept. 21, the average class size was under 14 students. Pre-k had 21 students. The largest K-12 classes are in first grade, with 17 students in each of two classes. The smallest class size is 11, with one each in the sixth and seventh grades. Students in those grades are split into three classes each. Sixth grade has 35 students total. Seventh grade has 36.

The school is inviting extended family, community members and retired staff to enrich the student experience. Several Geer Village residents are volunteering as tutors — including a retired engineer offering math support — and mentors. Others are invited to read and to work with students under the supervision of a classroom teacher.