Fleetwood Elementary School parent Jane Smith is used to small classes in Mt. Laurel schools. Her second grader is in a class of just 18 students, a size she considers optimal.
However, when she learned her fourth grader’s class size was near the district maximum of 23, she and other parents joined together to plead to the board of education for changes.
Changes to class size in the district may be coming soon after a group of Fleetwood parents voiced their concerns about multiple class sections being too large.
For Smith, it’s the first time she’s had a child in such as large class.
“This is not something we’ve ever experienced before,” Smith said.
Currently, the district’s policy sets a maximum number of 23 students per class in the elementary schools. If the maximum number is reached, the district has the ability to add part-time or full-time teaching aides if funding is available.
If the maximum enrollment per class is met prior to Aug. 21, an extra section of the class can be added.
According to the enrollment report approved at the board of education meeting, one first-grade section was above the district maximum as of Sept. 4. Other sections of first and fourth grade were also at the maximum number of 23.
The current policy wasn’t satisfactory for parents such as Bethany Pacheco. Pacheco has a first grade student at Fleetwood who is in a class of 24 students. She said the Aug. 21 deadline is too early as families are constantly moving in and out of nearby apartments.
“People are moving in on Aug. 1 and are then registering for school,” she said.
The main concern among parents was the lack of attention for individual students and concern the teachers are having their time too spread out.
“It’s upsetting to me,” Smith said. “Fourth grade is a tough year.”
The board of education acknowledged the parents’ complaints during the committee reports. Policy committee chair Joanne Pelly said she had received emails about the issue prior to the meeting. She said the policy committee would meet on Sept. 30 to discuss changes.
“Our sole purpose will be to develop a revised policy,” Pelly said.
Pelly did not go into details on what specifically would be revised in the policy. The committee plans to look at the class size policies of neighboring districts to get ideas on where to make changes.
“We’re going to go as in depth into this as we need to be,” Pelly said.
If a revised policy is developed, it needs to go through two readings before the board can make it official. This would make the earliest possible date for a revised policy to be approved Nov. 25. For many parents, the waiting period is too long.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable to have 24 to 25 kids per class until winter break,” Pacheco said.
Some parents asked the district if they could hire additional staff to help teachers in the larger class sections. Superintendent Antoinette Rath said the district would explore all of its options following the committee meeting. The policy committee is expected to report its findings to the full board at the next meeting on Oct. 21.
