Last Thursday, the Quakertown Community School District Board of Directors met for their regular voting meeting before the start of their 2019-2020 school year.

            Assistant Superintendent Nancianne Edwards gave a current update on projected enrollment. According to Edwards, school administration has been seeking solutions to large class sizes in the elementary schools.

            The administration was able to reduce the number of students in half-day kindergarten at Neidig Elementary from 26 by working with parents of students who live close enough to schools.

            However, to handle the overcrowded second grade class at Trumbauersville Elementary, Edwards recommended hiring an additional teacher, describing efforts made to look closely at other options before making the recommendation.

            "I share this amount of detail so you can have a sense of the things we do behind the scenes to make this work," Edwards said.

            Trumbauersville Elementary parent Jazmin Wright expressed concerns about second grade class sizes, also calling for an additional teacher.

            "I think what I am saying here tonight is something we all know in our hearts," Wright said. "In a classroom of thirty kids, it is impossible to get to every kid."

            "I am pleading to the board tonight to add that additional second grade teacher."

            The board approved hiring the additional teacher, as well as adding an additional full-day kindergarten section at Pfaff Elementary.

            During the Superintendent's Report, Dr. William Harner announced that the updated school website at www.qcsd.org has gone live. Joe Kuza, Director of Technology, provided a demo of the new site, noting that it now has more accessibility capabilities.

            In other business Thursday night, the board discussed authorization for home-schooled students to attend vocational education through the district. Currently, district policy allows home-schooled students to participate in vocational education.

            After voting to allow a home-schooled QCSD student to enroll in Upper Bucks County Technical High School, the board discussed whether the policy should be reviewed for future decisions, citing legal and financial issues.

            The policy committee will present options next month. Director and policy committee member Johnathon Kern noted that, if the policy is ultimately changed at all, current students would be grandfathered in.

            At the opening of the meeting, President Steaven Klein announced the passing of former QCSD teacher Kurt Wallace. Wallace taught in the district for 34 years, serving as advisor for several extra-curricular activities.

            "While I have never had the pleasure to meet Mr Wallace, I have read the many posts on the website today and it is easy to see that he was a well-liked, respected and dedicated teacher," Klein said.