This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. At the start the school term, fifth-grade teacher Maria Lefler counseled students to rethink their notions about personal space. At Red Rock Elementary School such mishaps are inevitable. The Royal City school was built for about 500 students just seven years ago. With 720 students this year, the building is nearly 50 percent over capacity.
Classes teem with youngsters.
Desks, chairs and tables spill out of classrooms and line the hallways, where instructor's assistants meet with kids in small learning groups. Teachers stack books and other lesson paraphernalia outside their doors. There isn't an unused corner to be found. Recesses are staggered so the playground isn't overloaded. It does double duty, serving as classroom space when not in use for meals.