A new classroom support position will give Excelsior Springs schools additional flexibility as officials consider ways to address higher- than-desired class sizes in some areas.

Board of Education members recently unanimously approved the creation of a Classroom Support Assistant classification. Assistant Superintendent of Operations Scott Guilkey explained the position would allow the district to hire staff specifically to support general education classrooms while keeping those positions separate from paraprofessionals, which the district primarily assigns to special education programs.

Guilkey noted the district looked to absorb some positions near the end of the previous school year as officials considered what they were hearing regarding the state budget. He said other area school districts either took similar steps or are now considering them for the coming year.

While class sizes have generally landed where district officials anticipated, Guilkey explained a few areas are higher th…