This study explores the trade-off between response time and labor costs in managing online learning forums by proposing a queuing-based model to determine the relationship between response time and the number of teaching assistants needed. An experiment conducted with students in a Computer Science Introduction course at a vocational high school tested the model and identified the optimal number of assistants required to maintain acceptable response times. A questionnaire based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) assessed student perceptions of usefulness and satisfaction, revealing no significant difference in perceptions when the number of teaching assistants was reduced. The findings suggest that the model is effective for predicting staffing needs and reducing labor costs without affecting student satisfaction.