After Complaints of Over-Crowded Classrooms, Iowa City Schools Hiring Teachers

The posted job opportunity information for 10 teaching positions on its website today, Tuesday.

This comes after a few months of complaints from parents about crowded classrooms, particularly at where fifth-sixth grade classes had 34 students. Several have documented the high student-to-teacher ratios there, and the district held a public forum on the topic.

The job postings include long-term substitutes for first and fifth-sixth grade (full-time) and third-fourth grade (two-thirds time) at Longfellow; kindergarten and first grade (full-time) at Van Allen; second grade (full-time) and a 2.5 hours a day paraeducator elementary supervisory at ; third grade (half-time) at Penn; second grade (full-time) at Kirkwood; and a 6.5 hours per day paraeducator for autism at

The position types are all classified as certified.

The jobs were posted today. Alesha Crews of the Iowa City Press-Citizen cites assistant superintendent Becky Furlong saying the district hopes to fill the positions by Jan. 17.

Previously, district officials approved to pay for additional staff. The district received an unexpected jump with an influx of more than 400 new students this year, meanwhile the district budget was kept flat by the state.