When the doors opened Wednesday, the Central York School District welcomed about 180 more students than at the start of school last year.

"Early numbers show us at 5,742 (students)," said superintendent Michael Snell, noting the district started last year with 5,562.

The district received an additional 11 Hayshire kindergarten students over the course of one week, said Rick Burd, assistant to the superintendent.

"This puts our kindergarten classes at both Hayshire and Stonybrook at about 23 students per class," said Burd, who told the board the district guideline is 20. "This is higher than we would like it, and we are going to keep a close watch on it over the first few weeks."

Board member Barbara Johnston questioned why the district had a recommendation of 20 students if they aren't going to adhere to it.

"I'm looking at these numbers at both Hayshire and Stonybrook and, if we have seven classrooms of 23 students, then why not add a class?"

Burd said the increase came on "suddenly" and students were already placed in classrooms.

"If we continue to see this growth, I think it's something we'll have to consider," he said. "However, no child will be moved without parental consent."

Snell said that a similar situation occurred during the 2010-2011 school year. That year, the administration came back to the school board in September and asked for additional aides.

"I'd like to wait and bring back more concrete numbers to the board in September," Snell said.