Andy Close
RUSSELL, Pa. – As the 2023-24 school year gets underway, the Warren County School District Board of Directors reported during committee meetings Monday that class sizes are all “within procedure,” which includes Warren Area High School.
That, of course, has been a subject of debate, given that the board voted in June to adopt a hybrid option that sends Sheffield students in grades 9-12 to Warren for three core classes in the mornings this school year.
There are a few courses at Warren High that currently have 30 or more students, but Warren County School District Superintendent Amy Stewart said that isn’t abnormal.
“There are seven courses over 30. That’s typical in a year,” Stewart said. “I still think we are within the boundaries of these sections. The sciences are the highest right now.”
Stewart also praised building administration at both schools for helping the transition to be as smooth as possible.
“We have a number of offerings that are definitely better for those students,” Stewart said. “Josh Vincent (Warren Area High School Principal) and his team have been attentive, working to make sure that it is successful. They’ve given 150 percent knowing that some folks are going to be making up their mind back and forth on certain electives. Josh will be checking in with those kids, making sure there aren’t barriers in the way. We want to be right on top of it in talking with those kids. We should be able to have a monthly report from here on out pointing to those metrics. Right now we have everything lined up the way we want.”
WSCD Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Erie Mineweaser said the influx of Sheffield students is having some impact, but reaffirmed Stewart’s assessment. He added that the district would have the ability to hire another teacher if those class size pressure points got to high.
“It is impacting it, you have some morning classes (with the Sheffield students), some afternoon, that are high,” Mineweaser said. “But for example, if we have a science class with 32 students and we add a teacher, we would simply cut that in half. It’s something we’ll keep an eye on.”
In Other News
• The board approved several new teacher hires, including at YEMS and Beaty. The list can be seen here. See Here
• The board approved the bid of Rick Ristau to purchase the former Pleasant Township Elementary School for $27,500. Ristau’s bid was the highest among three submitted. See Here
• The board approved the resignations of Youngsville High School softball coach Scott Ishman, as well as athletic trainer Courtney Skarzenski. See Here
• The board approved a dual credit agreement with Eisenhower High School and the University of Pittsburgh. See Here
