School Committee Looks to Decrease Class Size

In a meeting that started with more than a dozen people speaking their mind during the public comment section of the evening, began to get down to the details of their fiscal year 2013 budget.

One of the main discussions during public comment was the class size in what will be fourth and fifth grade next year. Both groups are projected to have more than 24 students per class; a number that many people felt is just too high.

Many people in attendance went as far as putting together a petition to reduce the class size in those grades; it currently has more than 120 signatures.

“Class size of 25 students is unmanageable and would not offer a conducive learning environment for elementary school students,” the petition says. “We understand the hard choices that school officials are forced to make each budget season and commend you for your collective thoughtfulness and dedication to making Hopkinton Schools a better place for all of our children.”

Several others in attendance were concerned about the class size at the High School.

Under the superintendent’s proposed budget, more than 20 percent of classes in the High School would have more than 25 students, an increase from 17 percent in the current year.

Those two issues were among the first that the committee took on during their working session.

The members had a conversation in detail about the fourth and fifth grade. Adding one full time teacher for each grade would reduce the class size from roughly 25 to an average of 22. The cost for that increase, along with the support to compliment it, could cost the district more than $140,000.

The discussion about the high school teacher was quicker, with high school principal Alyson Geary saying that an additional teacher would probably be used in the history department where classes are the largest.

The school committee also discussed what cuts could be made to compensate for the increased staffing, although the discussion was short and will be continued during the working sessions scheduled for Saturday morning at 9:30. Jean Bertschmann, chairman of the School Committee, said she hopes they can vote on the budget at that meeting, but they have meetings scheduled Monday and Tuesday nights if necessary.