Commentary: An Open Letter to Dr. Lee on Capacity

On Oct. 23, the Mahomet Daily published a letter to the editor that read:

The district says the new schools will help with overcrowding, but they’re also telling us that these buildings will be full again in just 10 years. That’s not very long, especially since the referendum will raise our taxes for 20 years. I want my kids—and yours—to have the best education possible, with smaller classes and enough room to learn, but this plan doesn’t seem to offer that for the future. 

On Oct. 24, we received an email from Superintendent Kenny Lee saying, 

I see on your website that you mention that all letters to the editor are fact checked.  Could you please tell me where I could find the information that indicates the District is telling the public that we will run out of capacity in ten years? That is inaccurate and the district has never shared such a fact. If we have inadvertently shared that information, it obviously needs to be fixed because it is not accurate. 

While the answer was already available, I have taken the time to think about the appropriate response to Dr. Lee’s question. The answer is simple, really; and we will get to that in a moment. I have decided, though, that the answer does not just belong to Dr. Lee, but rather, to the public. I believe in access to public information, and so, I will answer the question here, knowing Dr. Lee reads this publication.

Dr. Lee,

The Facts

While I do not have access to the letter to the editor author’s perspective or all the information the district has access to, I took the district’s referendum website into consideration when looking at the facts surrounding the author’s statement, “The district says the new schools will help with overcrowding, but they’re also telling us that these buildings will be full again in just 10 years.”

Under the enrollment tab on msreferendum2024.org the district writes: “As planned, the district would reach planned capacity under average growth (1.4% year over year) in approximately 2034. We would not reach MAX capacity until 2045 – past the date of maturity on the currently proposed referendum bonds.”

To begin, by definition capacity in relationship to physical capacity or storage capacity (Merriam-Webster) means: 

a: the potential or suitability for holding, storing, or accommodating
a large seating capacity
b: the maximum amount or number that can be contained or accommodated
a jug with a one-gallon capacity
the auditorium was filled to capacity

Now, I can see there is a distinction between “planned capacity” and “MAX capacity” in the district’s projections. Still, the definition of capacity already indicates the total capacity of a space. The concept of capacity inherently deals with limits, whether we are discussing physical spaces, resources, or human capabilities. When a system, structure, or individual reaches capacity, it signifies that no more can be accommodated without risking overload or breakdown. For instance, an auditorium filled to capacity can no longer admit more people, as exceeding the limit could pose safety hazards. Recognizing and respecting capacity is essential to maintaining balance and avoiding the negative consequences of overextension.

So, in short, this is the answer to Dr. Lee’s question.

The Mahomet-Seymour 2014 Class Size Standards

But I’d like to add more perspective. It is true that I no longer live in Mahomet. I moved in 2020, but have continued to provide a platform for news in the Mahomet-Seymour area. There are many journalists throughout the United States who do not live in the area they are reporting on, just as there are plenty of other professionals who do not live in the area they serve. The reality is, when a strong point is made, those who disagree often attempt to distract the audience with unrelated issues, simply because they have no substantial counterargument.

I lived in Mahomet for 20 years. And I have reported on Mahomet-Seymour issues since 2008. So, perhaps I have a little perspective. Take it or leave it. It is what it is. 

My children grew up in the Mahomet-Seymour School District. My son is the only child who did not graduate from that institution. I remember a time when teachers had classroom numbers that were manageable. It was that way until around 2015, 2016 when the second phase of Middletown Prairie was being discussed and designed. Teachers throughout the district contacted me saying the second phase of the project, adding onto the building, would create two issues: 1) there would not be enough classrooms or enough bathrooms and 2) it would be so big with 10-12 classrooms per grade level, that educators would struggle to get children from one place to another (specials, recess, support services, busses, etc.). 

In several interviews with (then) Superintendent Rick Johston, it was made clear that the building would not only provide enough bathrooms, but plenty of “flex” space that could be adaptable as kindergarten, first and second grade class sizes increased and decreased. He assured me that this was a long-term solution for the elementary grades, looking at adding the junior high to the district’s 70-acres to solve capacity issues at the higher grade levels. He even said this could be done by lowering the property tax burden on residential taxpayers. There was no indication that the district would need to add onto Middletown Prairie any time soon. 

Just two years prior to this (2014), the school board under the leadership of Johnston released a plan for target class sizes based on the economic environment of the school district. The district was coming off some unfavorable financial conditions, knew they would like to decrease class sizes, and set those standards to basically meet state standards. 

*graphic from Mahomet-Seymour School District in 2014

This is important because at this point in time the district knows they are at capacity (the potential or suitability for holding, storing, or accommodating), yet they build a new building that also ends up being beyond their planned capacity just one year after the first phase is built. They go on to renovate a large part of that first building and add an addition for first and second grade, and that building ends up being beyond planned capacity just two years after opening. 

Just five years after that (2022), the district asked taxpayers to support a referendum that put an addition on Middletown Prairie Elementary. That referendum failed, as did subsequent referendums. Yet, just two more years later (2024), the Mahomet-Seymour School District is telling voters that Middletown Prairie Elementary can only house Pre-K, kindergarten and first grade appropriately. Moving second grade out of that building will give classrooms enough space—for now. 

By saying the district will be at planned capacity in 2034, they are saying that things will be comfortable for educators and students until at least 2034. The learning environment will be adequate and suitable with reduced classroom sizes until then. Then, at that time, things will once again become uncomfortable for those who use any of the district’s facilities. That is until they become unbearable in 2045, just one year after the bond payments end. (Note: the Mahomet Daily predictions based on data provided by the district over the last 20 years suggest this will all happen sooner than the district predicts it will.)

Now, over the last five years, we have reported on how their enrollment projections have been incorrect. There is no way around that. Enrollment has exceeded any projection the district has made. We don’t need to go over that again. 

The Bridge Between Then and Now

The district is currently telling the community that classes are bursting at the seams right now. Second grade has 24-25 students per class, third and seventh have 26-27 per class, and sixth and eighth have 27-28 per class. And by the district’s own projections at 1.4-percent in 2034, 10 years down the road, second and third grade will have 26 per class (two more classrooms than they have right now) and sixth, seventh and eighth grade will have 28 per class (with two additional academic classrooms per grade). 

If the schools are beyond capacity right now, then it would be fair to say they will also be that in 10 years. Ten years ago in 2014 the district set classroom limits at 26-28 students per grade, and that was a dire situation, triggering the need for another classroom. 

Smaller Class Sizes and Educational Outcomes

According to the National Education Association, class sizes play a crucial role in shaping both teaching effectiveness and student success. When classrooms are overcrowded, teachers face significant challenges, such as reduced ability to offer individualized attention and difficulty managing diverse learning needs. For example, with a class of nearly 30 students, teachers often struggle to differentiate instruction, leaving some students without the support they need to thrive. In contrast, smaller class sizes, around 18 to 20 students, allow educators to tailor lessons more effectively, engage students more personally, and manage the classroom with greater ease.

Larger classes not only limit the time teachers can spend with each student but also contribute to teacher burnout, with many educators working beyond standard hours to keep up with grading, lesson planning, and managing behavioral issues. Overcrowded classrooms can lead to disengaged students, increased behavioral problems, and a lack of one-on-one time that many learners need to succeed.

Additionally, research supports the benefits of smaller class sizes. Studies, such as the Tennessee Project STAR, have shown that students in smaller classes perform better academically, and the benefits persist over time. When class sizes are reduced, students receive more attention, which translates into improved outcomes, especially in the early years of education. This also alleviates some of the pressures on teachers, improving their mental health and job satisfaction.

Shiny New Buildings and Students

The referendum isn’t just about shiny new buildings. It’s about creating an environment where both educators and students can thrive—where learning isn’t hampered by overcrowded classrooms and limited resources. Taxpayers, parents, and the Mahomet-Seymour School District must consider not just the immediate future but also the long-term sustainability of these facilities. Quite frankly, as a parent and a former taxpayer in the Mahomet-Seymour School District, I asked for that publicly since 2016. 

Will the district run out of space in 10 years? The numbers presented on the district’s website suggest this. The projected classroom sizes and capacity limits forecast that the district will be close to, if not at, capacity by then. So while the district may say“we won’t be at “MAX”’ capacity until 2045, it doesn’t change the fact that class sizes will continue to grow, and overcrowding will remain a pressing issue.

Mahomet-Seymour owes it to the students—both present and future—to address these concerns now, instead of kicking the can down the road another 10-20 years. They have had means through ESSER (federal COVID relief money) and sales tax money to make additions to the current facilities to address the issue that has impacted students in the school district since 2014. Instead, they have chosen to ignore the realities of growth in the Mahomet-Seymour School District and this has led to more overcrowding, larger class sizes, and the inevitable consequences of a strained educational system. Now they are asking taxpayers for the largest tax hike in Champaign County history to manage a problem for a decade when the payment for that solution will continue until 2044. 

Even though my critics will say I don’t live in the Mahomet-Seymour School District anymore or that I’m out to get the district or doing this to make money, the reality is that the things I have talked about in this publication and as a parent have remained true. The Mahomet-Seymour School District and all taxing bodies have a responsibility to the taxpayers to ensure the management of funds and assets are working towards the long-term betterment of the community. 

In this case, the major question to answer is, “Is the Mahomet-Seymour School District ensuring that they will provide an optimal educational and work environment for teachers and students over the lifetime of the referendum (at minimum)?” If the answer is no, then constituents should pass on this one, and ask the district to come up with a better plan that provides that environment over the lifetime of the referendum with a lower tax-increase by leveraging grants (which are currently open and available), using sales tax money (which is earmarked for facilities) and using their annual  revenue increases through property tax increases (EAV) to address the issues within the district: facility capacity, classroom sizes, staffing needs and educator salaries and benefits. 

If you have any more questions, let me know,

Dani Tietz
Editor, Mahomet Daily