GLENDALE, KY. (WDRB) -- It was an unexpected surprise in Hardin County, Kentucky -- too many students meant not enough teachers.
Bill Reynolds teaches exponents to his 6th graders at East Hardin Middle School: "So we're going to say two times two times two times two."
Every desk in his classroom is full. "I had 34 first period," he says, "and I had 32 this past period." Normally he has about 27 or 28 students.
From the crowded classes, to the packed hallways, Hardin County schools saw an unexpected rise in enrollment when students returned to class last week -- 300 more students than projected throughout the district.
East Hardin Middle School has about 800 children as of Wednesday. They were expecting 744 at the beginning of the year. Some rooms have as many as 36 students.
East Hardin Middle Principal Daniel Lockwood explains, "It matters because that's multiplied times five or six classes. That's 30 extra students you have to work with each week or each day. That's 30 more papers to grade, 30 more parents to contact, 30 more of everything. It does put a burden on the teacher."
Reynolds also points out, "It's less time with each of the individual students."
Hardin County school leaders plan to solve this equation by hiring 17 more teachers. Principal Lockwood says, "I've been allotted two additional teachers that I have posted the positions and hope to have them hired in the next week or two."
The drawback -- top quality teachers may have already landed other jobs. And children's schedules will change after they get into a routine. Lockwood says, "It's a much worse feeling when people you're expecting to come don't come in, that people don't desire to be here. When people are choosing your school and choosing to buy a house and choosing your district, it means you're probably doing something right."
Reynolds says he'll teach every student put in front of him, as long as he or she has a desk. "I enjoy working with kids," he says.
The way state funding works, Hardin County expects to receive more than a million dollars for its surge in students. That will fund the 17 new teaching positions. The district will also add five and a half aide positions.
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