Parents worry over class size

Some fear that teachers are being stretched to their limits.

By: Jessica Beym
   The growing class sizes at the Cranbury School has some parents and administrators concerned about future growth and possible problems with education, personnel and facilities.
   A half-dozen parents who attended the Board of Education meeting Monday said they feel that teachers are being stretched to the limit and want to see more aides in the classrooms this year.
   Parents also asked the board what its policy is regarding adding additional classes, and what it is doing to prepare for what they say will be ever increasing student bodies, which could be due to the resale of existing houses and new developments.
   In the past, the Board of Education has predicted a yearly total population increase of 20 to 25 students. This year, 40 more students enrolled than last year, with a total of 650 students.
   Chief School Administrator Carol Malouf said the district carefully monitors the progress of students and has already taken measures to deal with enrollment growth. This year, she said, the district reorganized daily schedules to ensure there are additional aides available in classes such as science and math.
   Ms. Malouf also said that based on first-quarter progress reports and teacher meetings, students are not suffering due to larger class size. She said that on average, students are at the appropriate academic level for this point in the year.
   Parents disagreed with Ms. Malouf, saying that teachers have told them differently. They said teachers, especially those in the fourth grade, are stressed because of the size of the classes. This year there are 77 students in the fourth grade with 26, 26, and 25 in each class.
   Teachers in the fourth grade did not return phone calls from The Cranbury Press.
   Sue Aloikas, a parent of a fourth-grade student, said she is worried the children are struggling in the classrooms because of a lack of assistance.
   "The feedback I get from teachers, without naming any names, is they are very stressed," Ms. Aloikas said. "There are kids on the bottom of the bell curve who need extra help. It is an average, Ms. Malouf."
   A few mothers at the meeting agreed that most people come to Cranbury because of the school’s reputation for education and small class sizes and they would like to keep it that way.
   The only policy the Board of Education has regarding class size is that kindergarten classes must have a teacher’s aide if it has more than 22 students. There is no official limit on class size for other grades, however, the district considers adding classes or aides when a grade level hits 75 students, board members said.
   "They are all seasoned teachers and feel they can handle the challenge," said Ms. Malouf. "If it should come that our teachers feel there is a tremendous lack of educational growth, then we will address the situation."
   Before next year’s budget is prepared, the Board of Education and administrators will meet to discuss adding personnel for next year and ways to reorganize how the space in the school is used to create more room.
   The district also will hire a demographer and work with local real estate agents and the township to prepare a sufficient enrollment projection for next year.
   "It takes time to sift it out. I want to assure you, we will work with the board, we will work with the teachers and we will continue to monitor," said Ms. Malouf.