In order to provide second grade students in Jersey Shore Elementary the best possible opportunity to gain a solid foundation in reading and other skills, at last night’s meeting of the JS School Board director Mary Thomas asked other members to temporarily hire an additional second grade teacher to bring class size down to a more manageable number. Yes, class size does matter at these critical grade levels and as a result of the closure of Salladasburg Elementary, there has been a significant increase in the number of students per class. Salary and benefits for the additional teacher would be under $100,000 to be paid for from the $10 million dollar district fund balance or savings account. Yet in reality, the yearly interest earned on this money would pay for the teacher. The ten million dollars would not be touched! How much is it worth to make sure our kids can read????? That they don’t fall behind and are forced to forever play catch up? The stark reality is that they don’t catch up but are left behind and struggle at every future grade level and in their adult lives as well. Sadly, it would appear though that several board members think that is just too darn much money to spend on young children! What a shameful set of priorities from members of a board of EDUCATION!

Please contact your representative and demand they do what is in the best interest of our most precious resource-our children! Hire the much needed teacher at second grade. Board members email addresses are all lower case- first initial last name @jsasd.org. These young students are counting on us.

Thank you , Mary, for looking out for our kids!

RAYE BIERLY

Linden

Submitted by Virtual Newsroom