Parents press Great Valley board to add classrooms as superintendent reports dip in kindergarten enrollment

At the Aug. 11 meeting of the Great Valley School District Board, Superintendent delivered an enrollment update saying, “Right now, we have less than 300 kindergartens and kindergartners enrolled,” and outlined the district’s class‑size guidelines as board members and parents raised concerns about overcrowding at General Wayne Elementary. Parents asked the board to add new sections in third and fourth grades rather than exceed class guidelines.

The superintendent said kindergarten enrollment is down from last year and that the district is watching cohort sizes across grades; the report noted the district has roughly 25 newly hired teachers and that principals will finalize rosters shortly. The superintendent explained class‑size guidelines to the board: “for K to 1 are 18 to 22 students. In grades 2 and 3, it's 20 to 24 students. And in grade 4, it's 22 to 26 students.” The superintendent said most elementary classes are within those guidelines but singled out…