NORMAL - Jason Hummel of Normal is concerned how students are affected by increasing enrollment at Fairview Elementary School and overcrowded classrooms.

Last week, Hummel, a member of the Fairview PTO, asked the school board.

Fifth-grade classes may have about 27 students next year, Hummel projected, and there will be four first-grade classes and four kindergarten classes.

Last year, fifth grade averaged 25 students. The average class size at the school was 19.

Hummel praised the "excellent teachers" but said classes are too large and force teachers to spend time on discipline instead of education.

The numbers of students moving in and out of the school makes it difficult to plan, said Fairview Principal James Shaw. And the higher number of at-risk students makes larger class sizes seem even larger.

Fairview has about 440 students, including about 80 pre-schoolers, up from about 410.

Hummel acknowledged a $96.7 million referendum approved in February will pay for two new grade schools and enlarging another, but it won't come soon enough.

"I firmly believe there is a resolution to every situation," said Shaw. "We will find a way to resolve this," he said.

Superintendent Gary Niehaus said other elementary schools are having similar challenges and have moved art and music classes to accommodate an extra section of a particularly large grade.

All elementary schools will more space in 2010 following redistricting and the opening of the new elementary school, he said.

In related business, the district hired Chicago-based Turner Construction Co. as construction manager to build the schools.

The district also took the next step in getting model classrooms at Hudson, Fairview and Brigham elementary schools. The schools are set for renovation in summer 2009.