From the Superintendent: Classroom Shifts in Albany Elementary Schools

[Editor's Note: Superintendent Marla Stephenson shared this information Friday in response to a query from Albany Patch about changes in classrooms in area elementary schools.]

So here is what is happening due to lower than expected enrollment in kindergarten and first grade, and higher enrollment than expected in grades four and six. This is district resident enrollment including children of staff.

The district is collapsing a kindergarten and first grade combination that we created in August and staffed with a substitute teacher. Three kindergarteners were transferred to Cornell. Everyone else was absorbed into existing classes at Ocean View.

The district created a fourth and fifth grade combination (with current staff) in August because of higher expected enrollment in fourth  grade. At the end of the day, we ended up with more fourth graders than we could accommodate, even with the combination class in place.

The district is eliminating the combination at Marin. The teacher will now teach only fourth grade. One fourth grade student from Cornell and four from Ocean View will join the fourth grade class at Marin. The fifth graders who were in the combination (all new to the district) will join a newly formed fifth grade class at Ocean View.

At sixth grade, we planned on nine classes but, due to higher than expected enrollment, we have to add a new sixth grade class.

We are interviewing today for a new fifth grade teacher. We are interviewing shortly for the sixth grade teacher.

We understand that moving children and classrooms is very difficult on kids, families and staff. We very much appreciate everyone's flexibility in these difficult financial times.