FARMINGTON — RSU 9 Superintendent Tom Ward has tasked administrators to find solutions to overcrowding at elementary schools for next year and beyond.

Ward told the school board Tuesday that overall the student population of 2,336 as of October is about the same as last year. But there are more students enrolling at the lower elementary grades than at the middle and high schools, he said.

Rooms and spaces are not being used in the buildings the way they are supposed to be, due to the number of students attending the Mallett School in Farmington and Cushing School in Wilton, he said.

Music and art classes are being held in the Cushing School cafeteria, which also doubles as the gymnasium, he said. The Cushing School has 186 students in prekindergarten through second grade. The Mallett School has 466 students in prekindergarten through third grade.

The latter school, which was recently built, has a capacity of 400 students, including 50 prekindergarten students.

The district had to move a kindergarten classroom to the second floor at the Mallett School this year because of an influx of students in that grade. It was possible because there was a dedicated stairway that could be used for those students, Ward said.

Student populations at the other schools are 174 at Academy Hill School in Wilton, 201 at Cape Cod Hill School in New Sharon, and 279 at Cascade Brook School, 709 at Mt. Blue High School and 321 at Mt. Blue Middle School, all in Farmington.

dperry@sunjournal.com