Dist. 303 parents: fewer administrators, more experienced teachers

St. Charles School District 303 might serve its students better with more experienced teachers and fewer administrators. That was the feeling many parents expressed, anyway, at a forum Thursday to set district goals.

The comments were in response to statistics showing more than 54 percent of the 1,131 teachers in District 303 have 10 or fewer years of experience. Meanwhile, the district has about one administrator for every 217 students, exceeding the state average of one for every 231 students, officials said.

Residents questioned whether that amount of administrators is necessary, and said they want to know why teachers appear to be leaving after only a few years.

"It does look like we have some younger teachers, that the staff has become younger in the last five years," said Haines Middle School Principal Charles Kyle, whose son goes to Davis Elementary School in St. Charles.

"We need a survey to find out why they're leaving, where they're going," said Joanna Martin, a parent and middle school teacher.

It appears many of the teachers left because of retirement or life-changing events, such as having children, Kyle and others said.

As for the number of administrators, Kyle, who is one, said he wasn't surprised to hear residents say there might be too many.

"When people say something like that, it's like, 'Oh,'" he said, widening his eyes. "But that's how the community feels. The community needs to be able to speak up."

Thursday's meeting was the second of monthly "Summit 303" forums to take place over the next year or so. It was attended by slightly fewer than the 500 who showed up in November.

The comments about administrators and teachers -- along with other topics brought up Thursday, such as class sizes, transportation and curriculum -- will eventually lead to a list of priorities for the school board, as set through "Summit 303."

The next meeting is planned for 7 to 9 p.m. Jan. 10 at Charlestowne Mall, 3800 E. Main St. More information and updates are available online at www.d303.org.