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Teachers’ class-size task force urges lower K–5 thresholds, cites measurement dates and stipend policy
Summary
The Class Size Advisory Task Force (DCTA) presented its findings and recommendations to the DeKalb CUSD 428 Board: maintain middle-school thresholds, reduce elementary thresholds to 25 next year, continue stipends for over-threshold classes (now $300), and note that measurement occurs Oct. 1 and March 1.
The DeKalb Community Unit School District 428 Class Size Advisory Task Force, represented by Dina Sweet (eighth-grade language arts teacher at Clinton Rosette and co-president of the DeKalb Council of Teachers of America), presented its end-of-year report to the Board and urged continued action to reduce elementary class sizes.
Sweet said the task force, formed in 2019 and renegotiated in 2023 under the district’s MOU with DCTA, awards one-time stipends to teachers whose core-class rosters exceed contract thresholds. The stipend was increased from $250 to $300 in the 2023 agreement. Sweet said measurement dates for stipend eligibility are Oct. 1 and March 1 and that the program pays out twice a year.
Key recommendations and clarifications the task force presented: - Elementary (K–5) class-size thresholds will be reduced to 25 students starting next year; bilingual class thresholds were described as lower (district guidance cited a 21-student bilingual threshold going forward). Secondary thresholds remain at 35. - The stipend applies to core classes and to some specials (for example, PE) and is calculated per teacher; bilingual and co‑taught classes have slightly different counting rules (bilingual classrooms have a lower threshold; co-taught classes use averages across teachers). - The stipend is calculated at the Oct. 1 and March 1 measurement dates; Sweet noted student movement on those dates can create short-term overages. Historically, overages recorded at measurement dates have generally been small (often two students over the threshold when overages occurred). - The task force recommended continuing to add FTEs as needed, pursue facility solutions (including Mitchell Elementary opening, which will reduce some building overcrowding), and advocate for dedicated space for Early Learning and Development Center (ELDC) programming to free classroom space currently used at Huntley Middle School.
District principals and staff described operational reasons for targeted staffing: large elementary schools with more than 500 students and 20-plus classrooms need more than one building leader to conduct teacher evaluations, coaching and day-to-day classroom observations, they said. Presenters also noted the district assigns additional supports (co‑teachers, paraprofessionals or related services) based on IEPs and student needs, but the task force’s stipend language does not automatically guarantee additional para staffing for every over‑threshold classroom.
The task force will continue to meet (the MOU requires regular meetings) and will return to the board next year with updates. No formal board vote was taken on new policy at the meeting.
