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Parents press board over Hilldale kindergarten class sizes; district adds full‑time aide
Summary
Parents raised concerns about overcrowded Hilldale kindergarten classes, where one section reached 24 students, including 16 boys; district said an instructional aide will be added full time and will monitor enrollment.
Parents at Tuesday’s meeting pressed the board over class sizes in Hilldale Elementary kindergarten, saying one classroom has 24 students — 16 boys among them — and arguing that small children need more individual attention.
Adam Holzberg and other parents described how large kindergarten rosters limit movement, reduce the effectiveness of small‑group instruction and risk creating an unproductive learning environment for five‑year‑olds. Holzberg said an empty classroom in Hilldale could be used for a third kindergarten section and asked the district to consider splitting the class.
District officials said enrollment increases resulted from recent housing developments in town and a demographer’s projections. Administrators said they had warned the public about rising enrollment and noted a referendum for expanded space had been voted down. The district explained that the children moved in after the August 1 enrollment cutoff and that policy limits on classroom size would normally trigger a split when thresholds are met by the deadline.
Administrators told the board they will add a full‑time aide in the affected classroom for now and will continue to monitor enrollment and space needs. They said reassignment of classrooms now would be disruptive and that the district will continue to evaluate additional staffing and facilities options as the year proceeds.
