Parents say planned South Avenue first‑grade consolidation will raise class sizes; superintendent outlines staffing and intervention steps

A Beacon parent and petition organizer told the Board of Education that 40 first-graders at South Avenue Elementary are scheduled to move from three classes into two this fall, which the parent said would raise class sizes from about 13–14 to more than 20 and could harm early reading development.

Matt Casey, who identified himself as a parent and organizer for nearly 300 signees, said the small-classroom experience last year (13–14 students) supported reading instruction and that research — including the Tennessee STAR project cited by the speaker — defines “small” early-grade classes as roughly 13 to 18 students.

District staff member Matt responded that the district has worked over several years to lower averages by hiring elementary teachers (eight were hired in a multi-year effort). He said averages and building-level disparities exist, noted moves of staff between buildings to address capacity, and described new intervention staffing: a full-time math AIS intervention teacher at each elementary, a district RTI teacher, a newly created district literacy specialist, a half-time E&L teacher and an added elementary special education teacher. Matt said intervention services will start in September and that staff will monitor classroom needs and add aides if required.

Board members and the superintendent agreed to gather more data and to consider placing the topic on a future agenda for additional review. No formal policy or staffing changes were voted at the meeting.