Parents Raise Concerns Over Class Sizes At Elementary School In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Several parents advocating for their children and teachers spoke to the school board about concerns over class sizes at Bradley Gardens Elementary School.

The parents shared the impacts on their students' education and well-being during the April 29 Board of Education meeting.

"I am here as a parent advocating for smaller class sizes because for some students it's not just about academic success, it's about equitable access to education itself," said parent Caroline Geraghty.

Geraghty noted that her seven-year-old son will come home and express disheartening statements to her, including, "Mommy, my class is overstimulating and distracting. I don't feel safe asking for help because I get in trouble for being myself."

"Every child deserves an environment where they feel safe, supported, and seen. Smaller class sizes aren’t just a benefit, they are a foundation for equitable education."

Another parent, Christine Brown, said her second grader is "anxious to go to school, and he is angry when he gets home."

Brown noted that her son's class size currently has 25 kids, but started with 26 kids.

"It's not fair to his mental health, nor that of the teachers. A third classroom next year would allow the children a calmer, less stressful environment in which they can learn with fewer distractions," said Brown. "And if the goal is student wellness, the overall experience, and keeping staff... I don’t think we are hitting the mark in Bradley Gardens."

Parent Melissa PocZatek also advocated for an additional classroom for next year's third graders.

"To know that my son, his classmates, and his teachers will be working in another smothering classroom where the needs can not all be met nor even addressed. The gifts of the children collaborating in a positive setting will not be shared. And the education that the teachers are working so hard to impress upon our children will not be absorbed by all - is completely disheartening," said PocZatek.

President of the Bridgewater-Raritan Education Association Laura Kress also spoke at the meeting sharing that a "big issue we are having in our buildings is student behavior. It's a very real concern for your staff, your teachers, your [teacher assistants], even your secretaries, your guidance counselors, and your child study team."

Over her 25 years with the district Kress noted there has been an increase in behavior issues. She offered some stats from last month including:

• 3 staff members were injured breaking up fights
• A parent was verbally threatening a team of teachers in a meeting and emails based on the fact that they were women
• 2 rooms and 1 office were ripped apart at a primary school by students
• At least 1 teacher assistant is scheduled for surgery after an attack last year
• A child study teacher is trying to reopen a workman's comp case from last year because they were attacked by a student and concussed and symptoms are coming back

"It's not even ok to use the bathrooms in the middle school, many are shut due to vandalism, and it's disruptive," said Kress.

Resident JP Levin asked the Board for action.

"To be honest, it's something that never should've happened in this school. You guys have to be reactive, and hopefully it comes sooner rather than later" said Levin.

Board member Jennifer Loughran asked administrators at the meeting when classroom sizes are determined.

Business Administrator Kevin Lomski said the district starts the staffing projections for next year in January. However, "the final decision is made in the summer when we have the most up-to-date information about how many students there are."

Lomski said that for the second grade at Bradley Gardens, there’s currently a group of students and two classes. If the group was divided into three classes it "would make three very small classes."

"The two classes are not in violation of policy but are on the larger side of the elementary school classes districtwide," said Lomski.

While the classes are on the larger size for the district, Lomski added that "in Bridgewater-Raritan the class sizes are not as large as in other places. So our large class sizes are in the low- to mid-20s. In some places, that is considered a small class."

Board member Rebecca Hassouna asked Lomski, "At what point do we add an aid or second teacher?"

Lomski said a second teacher is driven by a student need - most common are special education students.

"For a teacher assistant, sometimes a teacher assistant would be related to a students special education program. There are times when we've added a teacher’s assistant that is for enrollment. That's generally at the lower primary level and would be if the class size is 25 or greater in the class," said Lomski.

Board member Lucy Li suggested a follow-up with the concerned parents to offer some guidance or other help or resources that they could use.

"Every year, we’ve had someone come in and talk about class sizes for their particular class. And I think that as board members we need to make sure that the administration is properly giving them the flexibility to deal with what they need to do in terms of class sizes class proportions," said Board President Steven Singer. "We’ve dealt with this in a number of different occasions. And every year, someone has a request."

Superintendent Robert Beers said that classroom sizes in any grade, including elementary, is a moving target until August or September.

"People move both into the district, out of the district. I hear what people are saying, but I also trust the people at this table and in the buildings, and we are always here to make modifications as needed," said Beers.

Beers also pointed to the approved budget, which cut 33 staff positions.

"The bad part about this fiscal cliff, that every district in the state of New Jersey is facing, is as follows: Class sizes are going to get larger. Not just here but everywhere. If the trends continue in this direction," said Beers. "It’s going to be harder and harder to accommodate."

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