Board of Ed Approves Fourth Year of High School Math Requirement

The Board of Education Tuesday night approved requiring a fourth year of math for Meriden high school students. The recommendation stems in part from a new law requiring incoming freshmen in the Connecticut State University System to have four years of math starting in 2015.

The measure is likely to cost between $140,500 and $210,000 in its first year and would result in 250 to 275 additional students taking fourth-year math classes each year, according to estimates presented at the meeting. The mandate would begin with students who will be freshmen at Platt and Maloney next year.

Board member Scott Hozebin opposed the requirement. “Everything we spend money on means something somewhere else will have to be cut,” he said.

Although he agrees with the requirement from an academic point of view, “from a purely financial standpoint, I can’t validate it,” he added.

Robert Kosienski also expressed reservations. He said that requiring a fourth year of math may not be in all students’ best interests. Some students may be better served by having a choice of classes that will help make them well-rounded.

“I’m not sure it doesn’t hurt the student in the long run,” he told the board.

John Lineen pointed out, “A year from now, it’s a fait accompli because the state will require it.”

Irene Parisi added that the requirement would also reduce the number of Meriden students who have to take remedial math in college.

In the end, the measure passed with Hozebin and Kosienski voting against it. It will now go to the Policy Committee for drafting of official wording.