Data Still 'Fluid' On Enrollment, Says East Brunswick School District

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – The East Brunswick School District recently provided Board of Education members and residents with an update on student enrollment as the new school year begins.

Assistant Superintendent Bernardo Giuliana made a presentation, and the focus was on elementary schools in the district.

“Not all classrooms are created alike,” Giuliana said. Some have more space for students' others don’t.

East Brunswick uses three measures to calculate how much room students need in each class.

For the analysis they used the Department of Education facility efficiency standards; special education legal requirements according to New Jersey administrative code; and Board Policy that sets forth what the maximum class sizes would be at kindergarten (22 students in kindergarten and 25 in grades 1-12).

The enrollment data was last updated on Aug. 31, the day of the Board meeting. A clearer picture would emerge once schools reopen, meanwhile the numbers remain “fluid,” Giuliana said.

Here are some numbers from the enrollment data presentation:

• Opening enrollment at the school district on the first day of school, Sept. 6 was 8,106.
• In grades K-4 the district is above the project number by 47 students.
• Overall, district-wide East Brunswick is 160 students above projection. This is set to change as parents decide to move out of the district, Giuliana said.
• Kindergarten enrollment in the district are within “the policy maximum.”
• At Bowne-Munro Grade 1, the situation is “tighter” as the average class size is 20 students and the FES room capacity is 17.
• At Frost Elementary School the situation is similar, with average class 23 and room capacity 18.
• Overall the district has 572 open seats in elementary schools.

“Enrollments, they increase and they decrease. I’ve seen that happen for decades,” said Giuliana.

Board member Jeffrey Winston asked if redistricting was the answer classroom size issues.

Superintendent Victor Valeski agreed that it could be the answer but also noted that it was a very complex process.

You can watch the whole presentation by clicking here.