The Grosse Pointe Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution last night that should address remaining concerns parents and staff may have had about projected class sizes for the 2011-12 school year.
On Wednesday, the Board received the latest enrollment update revealing very favorable class sizes across the district with the exception five or six building grade levels – often referred to as “hot spots.” The district has informally used a maximum class size of 24 in kindergarten, 27 in grades one through three, and 30 in grades four and five as the upper boundary for class sizes.
Upon allocation of budgeted staff as of August 9th, the following sections were likely to breach that boundary: Defer 3rd, Kerby 2nd, Maire 1st, Poupard 2nd, and Trombly kindergarten.
The resolution last night granted the authority to the administration to hire staff beyond what had been passed in the 2011-12 budget to add sections in up to six building grade levels whose enrollment makes them a “hot spot.”
Elementary staffing and related planning is one of the more complex tasks in our operations, as I explained in this post. What I need to emphasize is that not only were we able to address these pockets, the rest of our district’s class sizes are quite attractive and in a relative sense very competitive.
Not only will no classes exceed the guidelines discussed above, but by and large they will average well below that – most likely in the 22 to 23 students per class range. With attractive class sizes, a no fee All Day Kindergarten offering, substantial investment in reading specialists, and other special class offerings – including Spanish and instrumental music – our elementary program offering is one of the best around. Our actions last night bolstered that offering.
As a final note, I was incredibly encouraged by the collaborative nature of the Board’s discussion and action on this issue last night. All members made great contributions and worked well as a team to bring about a change that will be immensely appreciated by our community. A special note of thanks to Board president John Steininger for allowing me to bring the matter up for discussion last night.
The unanimously passed resolution can be read here: Class Size Resolution_August 11 2011
3 responses to “Board action addresses elementary class size concerns”
Thank you Brendan, thank all of you for your hard work. I can’t help but to think that the hard work toward a collective goal is really creating a sense of group empowerment and solidarity on MANY issues. Great work!
Dear Mr. Walsh:
I’ve read your article and the attached Resolution dated August 11, 2011.
Does the Board’s action effectively mean that all day kindergarten (ADK) classes won’t have teacher’s assistants unless there are at least 25 students? If so, then it’s my view that the Board is seriously compromising the quality of the ADK program.
Consider the sheer logistics of teaching, supervising and caring for twenty-four (24) children, ages 4 and 5, for seven hours each day. Just to get ready for recess there are forty-eight shoes to tie, twenty-four coats to button, forty-eight mittens to put on…
I have two children of my own and was raised in family of eight children. I cannot imagine teaching a class of 24 ADK students without an assistant. The kindergarten teachers and, more importantly, our youngest students, deserve better, even if it means cutting somewhere else.
Greg Muller
Grosse Pointe, MI
August 19, 2011
Hello Greg,
I have three children and am one of nine children myself, so I can identify with your concerns.
The August 11th action confirmed our agreement regarding the maximum class size before adding another section. 24 in kindergarten is the maximum, not the average.
Some kindergarten sections will be much lower than that, others at 23 or 24. The resolution did not commit any action in regards to kindergarten assistants.
We will have to see how things shape up for final enrollment in elementary and elsewhere. Our kindergarten teachers are exceptional and welcome the support so generously offered by their students’ parents.
Brendan