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Community Corner

School Board Addresses Crowded Classes

Meriden elementary schools have 15 classes with 27 or more students.

Fifteen Meriden classrooms in grades three, four and five have 27 or more students, reported Associate Superintendent of Schools Robert Angeli at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting.

Six of those classes are in third grade (two at Thomas Hooker and four at Casimir Pulaski), three are in fourth grade (all at Roger Sherman) and six are in fifth grade (two each at Benjamin Franklin, Hanover and Thomas Hooker), according to school enrollment reports dated September 19, 2011.

To address the issue of crowded classrooms, the school board discussed the possibility of hiring two additional teachers: a third-grade teacher at Casimir Pulaski School, where four classes at that grade have between 27 and 30 students, and an elementary math curriculum facilitator position—a roving teacher who works with students and teachers throughout the district to improve math skills.

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These two teachers could come out of the savings the district received due to a teacher furlough day that the Meriden Federation of Teachers agreed to last spring.

A total of 25 positions were cut this year from the Meriden public school district, but the furlough day could allow four of them to be reinstated.

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Teachers approved the furlough day specifically as a means of alleviating large class sizes, said School Board President Mark Hughes.

Two positions were already reinstated in June: an elementary science specialist and a reading specialist. The superintendent has the discretion to make the two new hires. A vote by the board isn’t needed.

When it comes to quality of education, said School Superintendent Dr. Mark Benigni, “We all agree that while class size isn’t the only factor, it is a factor.”

Benigni went on to say that if the school board had chosen to look at the number of classes with 25 or more students instead of 27, the report would have been several pages long.

School board member Kevin Scarpati questioned the hiring of a math facilitator.

“For me to approve an administrative position rather than a classroom teacher when we have so many large class sizes may not be the most responsible use of that position,” he contended.

Benigni defended the choice of a math facilitator, assuring Scarpati that it is a teaching position.

“A lot of the data out there shows that these are the kinds of positions needed to make a difference,” Benigni said. “We need a strong intervention team.”

Angeli agreed, explaining that adding one classroom teacher would still leave several large classes. Teachers with big classes need extra support, he said. This type of position is a way to provide that support when class size can’t be reduced.

Last year the district had three math facilitators. The district now has one, Benigni told the board.

“What I’d like to do is present a plan to bring back 10 teachers, but the resources aren’t there,” Benigni said. “It really comes down to advocating for the resources that we need.”

After the October 1 enrollment numbers come in, the administration will formulate a plan for addressing large classes, Benigni maintained.

He will ask for a report of class sizes of 12 and under, and the board may consider eliminating some of these classes and reallocating the resources. To avoid disruption to schedules, any changes would likely wait until mid-year, he said.

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