Parents and officials in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District are looking at solutions to giving kids more time with their teachers.
Parents have expressed concern about class sizes in Stevens Elementary School and Charlton Heights. Third and fourth grade classrooms have been burgeoning, with class sizes hovering around 24 to 25 pupils.
Last summer, more students came into these elementary schools, and there are also more special education students integrated into the classrooms, said Rick Evans, assistant school superintendent. `Pashley used to be a hot spot, but we’ve taken care of that.`
Evans said, however, that many students enrolled in special education programs already have the assistance they need.
`When the kids are integrated into the classrooms, they often come with teaching assistants, which are a big support for them,` said Evans. `They also may not spend a full day in the classroom, so the number of students may not be increased all day.`
As the board of education mulls the 2007-2008 school budget draft, there are two teaching assistant positions that might be combined instead to one full-time elementary grade teacher. The board is considering creating an additional third grade in Charlton Heights.
Parent Pam Delucia told the board she fully supports adding another classroom to Charlton Heights.
`There’s nothing more precious than a teacher’s time, and in a community at the level of resources we have, this is indeed doable,` said Delucia. `My daughter was in a class of 17 before we moved into this district, and there’s a noticeable change in her attitude toward school now that she’s in a class of 25. I think we can do better.`
Evans stressed that the additional classroom, regardless of where it is created, won’t change the tax rate.
`This was built into the budget forecast,` said Evans. `There is also adequate space to make this additional classroom happen.`
School board member Tim Kelliher, while agreeing in theory on smaller class sizes, offered another view.
`Everyone wants smaller class sizes,` said Kelliher. `We were originally skeptical, but adding teaching assistants has worked out because they function as a team. We have a movement toward a more team-centered approach that I think is working. If we change to four teachers in separate classrooms, this may not be the best model.`
Board member Bob Speck asked if there has been a spike in the number of BH-BL district elementary students going to private schools due to complaints about class size, but Superintendent Jim Schultz said that had not been observed.
Schultz said the district is still in good standing among other Suburban Council schools, which typically allow about 24 to 26 students per classroom.
Board president Elizabeth Herkenham urged parents to stay on top of the 2007-2008 budget drafts as they are reviewed line by line.
`This is the time to bring your concerns forward, because all of this is still a proposal,` said Herkenham.“