GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Editor's note: GRPS disputes the claim that there are 55 children in the kindergarten classroom.
While many schools are kicking off the 2024-2025 school year, one Kent Hills mother said the first day of school brought concern for her.
"When they had orientation, we all went in, kindergarten was at, like, in their cafeteria because it was too big," said Jacqueline Geyer.
She said she was told to look at the class sheet and when she did, she noticed a long list of names in her son's class. When asking his teacher about it, Geyer says the teacher told her there were 55 kindergarteners per teacher.
Then, when Geyer showed up to drop her son off for his very first day of school, she described the scene as "a storm."
"There were toddlers crying and just teachers everywhere," she said. "Like [the teacher] was overwhelmed, visibly, you could just see on her face. And she kept saying, like, 'we need help.'"
Geyer is concerned about how her son and his other classmates will get equal one-on-one time with the teacher. She said she's also concerned for his safety.
"If they're out at recess, how are you watching 55 kids? I can barely keep track of my two when we're out and about," she said.
While Geyer said she didn't feel comfortable leaving her son there, he was fighting "tooth and nail" to stay.
"He wanted to go and meet friends and enjoy his first day, because it's a big thing," she said.
As a single mother, Geyer said she also doesn't have much of a choice. However, she said one of her friends had pulled her son out of the school because the teacher wouldn't let him into the classroom. That friend brought her son to a different school.
"I'm just so baffled by the whole situation," she said.
Geyer also noted she has reached out to the principal and the Board of Education but did not get any response. 13 ON YOUR SIDE also reached out to the district leaders. We received an email response which said, in part:
"Both of our kindergarten classes had 33 scholars in attendance. To help our kindergarten teachers, each class has a second staff member to assist."
It continued, "If high attendance continues over the next few days, a third kindergarten class will be added."