The Quest program might have one more extra teacher in the classroom, but it isn’t compromising other classes at Oilfields High School, according to the Foothills School Division.
The hiring of teachers is usually based upon the number of students in a course, one teacher for 24 students in a Physics 30 class for example.
However, with an assortment of courses being taught in the Quest program, it skews the traditional pupils-teacher formula, said Foothills School Division superintendent Denise Rose.
“You have to remember these students are taking all of their core subjects through these two teachers,” she said. “One teacher is doing the math, science and the other is doing LA (language arts), social. That’s a pretty heavy load for the teachers.
“You would need that many teachers anyway. It’s just different way of organizing the teachers you have allotted.”
She added the two Quest teachers are also teaching classes in traditional classrooms.
Oilfields principal Scott Carey said classroom sizes have not been compromised due to Quest.
However, he said the Quest program does have added expenses due to its Tuesday programs, which are often outside activities.
Carey said they have been fundraising in the community to raise money for the program.
He said the school is also busy applying for education grants.
