School board member: classrooms are brimming but "workable" despite budget cuts

Budget cuts increased average class sizes by two students in DeKalb County, and a school board member said he was concerned about crowding but that his worst fears were allayed by visits to several schools Monday.

"In each one of them they had adequate seating and they looked like the room could accommodate them," said board chairman Eugene Walker, who voted for budget cuts that increased the student-teacher ratio.

Walker said he visited several South DeKalb schools and saw classrooms holding as many as 39 students. No child lacked a desk, and the classrooms appeared orderly, he said. "It did appear to be workable, even though I don't like it."