Class size in cross hairs

Rep. Ron Bigelow, R-West Valley, who chairs the Legislature's budget committee, has a more conservative approach: trim kindergarten classes, and if there's enough money, first- and second grades.

"We can't reduce class sizes significantly for K-12 across the state ... based on the amount of funds available," Bigelow said. "To lower classes from 45 students to a more manageable 25 would be a huge, huge investment and would have tremendous impact on construction of school buildings."

Indeed, class size reduction is about hiring more teachers. And that could take more classrooms.

Or could it?

Bigelow says he is talking with education leaders to find other solutions, such as using aides or placing two teachers in a classroom to offer more personal attention. Teacher availability could be a factor in this approach.

"There are many possibilities, and we need to start looking at those before we get into a crisis mode," Bigelow said.

Also requesting class size reduction bills are Rep. Karen Morgan, D-Cottonwood Heights, and Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, D-Holladay, who has two in the works, according to the Legislature's Web site. They did not return messages seeking comment Thursday afternoon.

Huntsman, meanwhile, is hammering out his budget and is not yet working with legislators on any bill, spokeswoman Lisa Roskelley said.

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