Board approves May staffing allocations after discussion on growing middle-school class sizes

PARIS — The Paris City Schools Board of Education voted to approve May staffing allocations after staff reviewed certified and classified position counts and principals described classroom impacts.

The board approved the allocations on a motion by Bruce, seconded by Janice. Board members were told the allocations reflect state and district ratios and site-based principal requests and that some allocations were rounded from fractional formulas (example cited: an elementary allocation showing 13.6, rounded to 14).

During discussion, principals and staff described larger-than-typical middle-school class sizes in some grades and how scheduling (for example, band and high-school-taught honors classes) forces students into certain periods. One principal described sixth-grade sections near 32–33 students and noted grade-to-grade variance, while board members said some cohorts in the middle school counted as many as 50–53 students by grade level.

Staff walked the board through allocations by school: elementary (formula-driven allocations and classified assistant positions), middle school (ratios reflecting statute), high school (including academy of health science positions and a split-media librarian), and central office positions (bus drivers, cooks, maintenance). Board materials described JAG positions and instructional-coach allocations requested by principals.

The motion passed with the board recording the motion by Bruce, a second by Janice and a voice vote of “I” from members on the floor. No roll-call tally of named yes/no votes was recorded in the transcript portion provided.

What’s next: staff said approved allocations will be posted and sites will move to site-base approval and position postings.