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Board presses administration for K–2 class-size projections as staffing, substitutes remain a concern
Summary
Board member(s) pressed administration to explore adding elementary teachers to reduce kindergarten–second-grade class sizes and asked whether substitute and vacant positions in the budgeted headcount are sufficient. Administration said it will project scenarios and continue recruiting substitutes.
Board members at the Jan. 28 Boyertown Area School District meeting pressed district leaders to produce classroom-size projections for kindergarten through second grade and asked whether current staffing and substitute pools are adequate as the district finalizes budget planning.
Why it matters: research and board discussion argue smaller K–2 classes can improve early-grade outcomes; adding teachers affects operating budgets and building capacity.
The discussion began when a board member asked whether the budgeted headcount number (156) included unfilled positions and whether the district had enough substitutes. Administration responded that 156 is the total number of positions; some are still vacant and the district is continuing recruitment. The presenter said the district currently has about 46 substitutes who work consistently two to three days per week and an additional roughly 60–65 occasional daily substitutes recruited via Kelly Services.
A board member urged administration to model scenarios that would reduce K–2 class sizes, noting some classes currently reach 25–26 students and that the district’s special-education caseload can increase demands on teachers. The member asked administration to consider whether adding roughly three elementary teachers districtwide (to approach an average class size near 18 in K–2) would be feasible. Superintendent Dr. David Heizer said the administration will project options, examine building capacities and return with recommendations.
Administration acknowledged the district is near capacity in several elementary buildings and said it will balance classroom-size reductions with facility constraints and budget realities. The IT and business-office presenters also answered questions about how reorganization or general-fund use might affect longer-term budget planning.
Ending
Board members requested follow-up data and asked that administration bring back specific classroom-size scenarios for K–2, projected costs and building-capacity assessments at a future meeting.
