The Johnson City Board of Education is making its opposition to part of Governor Bill Haslam's education reform plan be heard loud and clear.
Last night the Board of Education passed a resolution opposing the section of the plan that would elminate the average maximum class size. That resolution is now being sent to the governor's office, the Tennessee School Board Association, State Senator Rusty Crowe and to State Representatives Matthew Hill and Dale Ford.
A copy of the resolution that is being sent to Nashville the Board of Education said increasing class size in an effort to increase student achievement and reduce educational costs would be counterproductive.
Overall, the board is definitely against any changes to state law that would decrease the number of teachers as class sizes are increased.
Right now if the governor's plan is passed as is school systems would receive more funding only if fewer teachers are teaching at least five more students in their classroom.
"We don't want to lose any of our teachers because we have great teachers that do a good job, but more importantly we really feel our children are best served in smaller classrooms,” said Kathy Hall, Chair of the Johnson City Board of Education. “You know five students doesn't sound like a lot, but we have classrooms that are packed full now especially if you get eighth graders. If you get five more eighth graders in a room it’s difficult."
The Tennessee Education Association said that under a worst case scenario that thousands of teachers state-wide could lose their jobs. If all of Governor Haslam's education reform plan is made into law.
The vote by the Johnson City Board of Education to draft the resolution that's heading to Nashville was done with a unanimous vote yesterday.
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