About 15 parents of elementary pupils asked the West Allegheny school board last week to hire more teachers.

McKee Elementary parents said class sizes last year were too large, and they wanted teachers to have no more than 20 students each.

"We need you to put more teachers in the classrooms for our children," said Michelle Abbott, of Oakdale. "We expect more from kids than ever before, but we give them less attention. It's not fair."

Elizabeth Coghe, of North Fayette, said some third-grade classes included 25 or 26 pupils, numbers "not appropriate" for such young students.

Superintendent John DiSanti said class sizes were generally "very reasonable" and that adding the staff and space necessary to limit class sizes to 20 would be too expensive.

Dr. DiSanti said the district aimed to cap class sizes at 20 for kindergarten through second grade and at 25 for third through fifth grade.

Dr. DiSanti projected average class sizes in McKee next year to be about 22 in kindergarten; 18 in first grade; 21 in second grade and third grade; 23 in fourth grade; and 22 in fifth grade.

Some parents were concerned larger class sizes were affecting student achievement. Dr. DiSanti said pupils in classes with 23 and 24 students achieved high scores on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment reading exam.

Art teacher Debbie Turici noted that she has 800 students in 41 classes among the three elementary schools -- Wilson, Donaldson and McKee.