Fourth Grade Teaching Position Splits School Board

The Saucon Valley School Board voted 5-4 Sept. 11 to approve hiring another fourth grade teacher amid vocal parental criticism about elementary school class sizes that have swelled to include as many as 28 students, the Express-Times reported Wednesday.

School administrators requested that the board delay its decision about the extra fourth grade teacher until next year, but some board members said they were concerned that the district's well-known reputation as a desirable school district is being harmed by the class sizes, the newspaper article indicated.

Voting in favor of the new hire were board members Lanita Lum, Sandra Miller, Ralph Puerta, Charles Bartolet and Sharon Stack. Those who opposed the move were Susan Baxter, Michael Karabin, Edward Inghrim and Bryan Eichfeld, according to the story.