Class size
Reducing class size
Each year the legislature establishes a dollar amount for the Weighted Pupil
Unit, that is, a dollar amount per student. The WPUs represent the money that
pays for operations and maintenance (everything from utility costs at the
schools to fuel for school buses). Funds for teachers also come from the WPU. In
many years, the WPU increase has not covered the increases in costs of doing
business – the same inflation costs that impact families also impact school
districts – and student opportunities have been reduced and class sizes have
sometimes needed to be increased.
Last year’s legislative increase to the WPU gave Granite’s board the opportunity
to reduce class sizes. We are dependent upon the legislature for future
increases.
As the legislature adopts the education budget, the district is able to
establish a school staffing ratio. Each school then receives its staffing
allocation based on the number of students in the school. The decision how to
balance actual class sizes in a specific school, given the staffing allocation,
is made at the school level.
Legislators sometimes visit schools as part of their Legislators Back To School
program. We encourage patrons to encourage their local legislators to visit
regularly.
Asked at Cottonwood High School community meeting, October 17,
2007
Asked at Granger High School community meeting, October 23,
2007
Asked at Hunter High School community meeting, November 7, 2007
Asked at Olympus High School community meeting, November 28, 2007
Asked at Taylorsville High School community meeting, January
22,
2008
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Reducing class size using
aides
Each year the legislature establishes a dollar amount for the Weighted Pupil
Unit, that is, a dollar amount per student. The WPUs represent the money that
pays for operations and maintenance (everything from utility costs at the
schools to fuel for school buses). Funds for teachers and aides also come from
the WPU. In many years, the WPU increase has not covered the increases in costs
of doing business – the same inflation costs that impact families also impact
school districts – and student opportunities have been reduced and class sizes
have sometimes needed to be increased.
Last year’s legislative increase to the WPU gave Granite’s board the opportunity
to reduce class sizes. We are dependent upon the legislature for future
increases
Asked at Taylorsville High School community meeting, January
22,
2008
Top