Dec 9, 2016 2 min read

Three Trinity South Elementary School parents voiced concerns about overcrowding in the school’s two third-grade classrooms at the Trinity Area School Board meeting Thursday.

The classrooms currently have 27 and 29 students, and include emotional-support students.

Parents said they are worried about the quality of education and their children’s safety because of what they described as frequent disruptive behavior of some of the emotional-support students.

Trinity does not have a class-size limit at the elementary school level, but Superintendent Dr. Michael Lucas said the class sizes at Trinity South are not ideal for third-graders.

He said the school board has requested a review of enrollment in every class in the school district’s buildings in order to determine if staffing decisions and other changes should be made.

Also Thursday, Lucas said the school district will hold a public meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 19 to discuss renovation projects it is considering with the $5 million Qualified Zone Academy Bond obtained through the state Department of Education.

The QZAB is a federal program that allows states to provide loans to school districts, which will be paid back at zero interest or a low interest rate.

Public schools in which 35 percent or more of the student body receives free or reduced lunches qualify for QZAB funding. Trinity North, West and the middle school qualify.

Funds must be used for renovation and rehabilitation projects, and equipment purchases.

Trinity is considering several projects to upgrade facilities that will result in cost and energy savings, including replacing HVAC systems.

Lucas thanked Washington Financial for assisting the district in procuring the money.