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Parents press board over Fullerton fourth-grade class size; district says guidelines and supports in place
Summary
Several Fullerton Elementary parents told the Addison SD 4 board their children are in an oversized fourth-grade class; district administrators said the guideline for grades 3-5 is 30, that the class currently enrolls 28 with three temporary "push-in" students, and that paraprofessional support is provided.
Several parents at the Oct. 16 Addison SD 4 Board of Education meeting urged the board to address overcrowding in a Fullerton Elementary fourth-grade classroom, saying the room has 31 students and that the size is affecting learning. District administrators responded with classroom-guideline figures and details about staffing in the class.
Gabrielle Popoca, whose daughter is in the class, told the board her child comes home describing crowded desks and difficulty receiving individual attention. "She often comes home sharing how difficult it is to move around the classroom because of the number of desks," Popoca said in remarks read to the board.
Other parents, including Tracy Hartman (a parent and high-school teacher), Monica Leishon and a speaker identified as Hugo, echoed concerns about noise, limited individualized help and inconsistent splitting of oversized classes elsewhere in the district. "Why are some classes getting split and not others?" Hugo asked, urging the board to prioritize quality of instruction.
Dr. Losey, responding during the meeting, said the districtclassroom-size guidelines are 26 students for grades K-2 and 30 students for grades 3-5. He said the fourth-grade class at issue currently has 28 enrolled students, with three additional students who "push in" during portions of the day, and that there is at least one paraeducator assigned most of the day and another para supporting the push-in students. "We appreciate the feedback. If there is any sort of update, we will provide it either directly or through Mr. Bolton," Losey said.
Board President Bollig noted that class-size decisions are influenced by enrollment counts, grade-level guidelines, time of year and collective-bargaining contract language. Parents who spoke said they had raised the issue with Principal Bolton and the classroom teacher, Mrs. DeSantis, before bringing it to the board.
The board did not take action during the meeting but asked administrators to follow up with families and the school.
