Officials in the Howell K-8 School District are working toward their goal of reducing class sizes in kindergarten, first-grade and second-grade classes.
Members of three Board of Education subcommittees — facilities, community interaction, and education — met on Aug. 4 to discuss the district’s goal of assigning between 15 and 18 children to a class in those three grades.
Each subcommittee is made up of elected members of the school board and residents who have been appointed to the panel. At a meeting of the full school board on Aug. 6, board members said they want to have an average of 18 students per class in those three grades.
Board member Mark Bonjavanni, who chairs the education subcommittee, said a reduction in class size to reach the 15- to 18- pupil goal could result in the rebalancing of school attendance areas and lead to changes for children and the community.
The discussion of a reduction in class size is occurring while the district’s enrollment is declining, according to the board.
“This process will definitely result in a widespread change, but not a drastic one, and before we begin the process we need to look at whether or not it works with the school budget,” Bonjavanni said.
The reduction of class sizes in kindergarten through second grade can result in greater student engagement with the teaching staff, according to Assistant Superintendent Bruce Preston.
“The reduction of class sizes will allow better one-on-one experiences between students and teachers as opposed to larger class sizes which do not provide enough individual attention to students who need it,” Preston said.
At present, the average number of pupils in a kindergarten class is 18, the average number of pupils in a first-grade class is 19, and the average number of pupils in a second grade class is 20, according to Superintendent of Schools Joseph Isola.
Demographer Wayne Verderber has been working with district administrators on this issue.
Verderber is currently using information and the numbers that were presented at the joint meeting of the three subcommittees to determine whether it is feasible to reach a minimum of 15 students and a maximum of 18 students per classroom, according to board member Al Miller, who chairs the facilities committee.
Verderber will report back on the discussion of class size reduction and the rebalancing of school attendance areas at a Sept. 8 joint meeting of the facilities, community interaction and education subcommittees. After his report has been presented it will be forwarded to the finance committee for review, according to Miller.