Last week, the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education authorized $179,769 to add six jobs to the school system.
The additional funding would support one teacher and five paraprofessionals to assist with elementary classroom support and the district's English Language Learner program. The additions also would enable further district compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which guarantees education for students with disabilities.
The decision is a result of preliminary enrollment data, which shows that the school system's kindergarten through fifth grade enrollment for the 2011-12 semester has increased. Combination classrooms have increased to 18 students from 11, and oversized classrooms have increased to 18 from 17, according to a news release.
Specifically, the funding will:
- add three full-time paraprofessionals for combination and oversize elementary classrooms;
- add one full-time paraprofessional to support the English Language Learner program at Hickory Hills Elementary School;
- add one full-time teacher to support the language program at Harrison Elementary School; and
- add one full-time equivalent paraprofessional at Fremont Elementary School to support Section 504.
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