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Parents urge Chippewa Falls schools to add second‑grade section at Hillrest, citing 27‑student classrooms
Summary
Multiple Hillrest parents told the school board that two second‑grade sections holding 27 students each are inequitable compared with 17–19 students elsewhere in the district and urged the board to fund a third classroom to reduce class size and protect supports for students with academic and behavioral needs.
Several parents of Hillrest students told the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District board that the school should add a third second‑grade classroom to avoid 27‑student classes and preserve supports for students with special needs.
"Currently there are only two teachers for the second grade class, which have 27 students in each classroom," said Rachel Rushman, who identified herself as the parent of a student who will be a second grader at Hillrest. She said a third classroom would reduce class sizes to about 17–19 students, matching other district schools, and stressed research showing students not reading by third grade are likely to struggle later.
Erica Stevens, another Hillrest parent, said last year the district proposed a late third first‑grade section staffed by an intern and a special‑education teacher, which left special‑education staff stretched. "That class was going to be supported by a special education teacher and absolutely not," Stevens said, arguing that relying on interns or shifting special‑education resources is not an acceptable solution.
Katie Hartman, also a Hillrest parent, called 27 students "chaos" and urged the board to "really consider this third section" so students can learn. Ann Hamlin added that decisions should account not only for pupil‑teacher ratios but also for Title I and special‑education service demands, noting Hillrest currently lacks paraprofessionals in affected classrooms.
Administrators told the board they monitor enrollment daily and that staffing decisions must account for districtwide parameters, available resources and final enrollment counts closer to the start of school. Chad Trobridge, who presented enrollment data later in the meeting, said formal recommendations are likely in mid‑August after summer transfers and record requests settle.
The board did not take a vote on the specific staffing request during this meeting; parents were invited to submit their written letter and supporting spreadsheets to the district.
