Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Class Size topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents voice concern after district projects some Copper Beach classes of 26–27 students
Summary
Several parents urged the Abington board to reconsider projections that will increase fourth- and fifth-grade class sizes at Copper Beach Elementary to 26–27 students, arguing that legal limits differ from best educational practice; district leaders said enrollment will be monitored and sections can be added if registrations change.
Multiple Copper Beach Elementary School parents told the Abington Board of School Directors on June 24 that planned fourth- and fifth-grade class sizes of 26–27 students risk undercutting instructional quality.
Parent concerns At the meeting Aaron Rosenfeld (Pleasant Avenue, Glenside) and Julia Goldstein (Jenkintown Road, Glenside) told the board they were worried about the announced elimination of a fourth- and a fifth-grade class at Copper Beach Elementary and the resulting rise in class sizes to 26–27. Rosenfeld noted that while the numbers “fall within Pennsylvania’s legal limits,” research and local teacher experience point to better outcomes in smaller classes. He also highlighted that “pullout” special-education services—used in district slides to explain staffing—do not remove a child’s planning or teacher responsibilities and therefore do not fully mitigate crowded classrooms.
District response Superintendent Dr. Fetcher and Assistant Superintendent/Assistant (Dr.) Melcor explained that the published class figures were projections based on registrations and reflected attempts to align staff FTE with enrollment and attrition. Administrators said they will continue to monitor registrations and withdrawals through the summer, will check weekly enrollment runs, and are prepared to open additional sections if registration trends require it. Dr. Melcor cited an early summer run that showed both Copper Beach and McKinley were running about 39 students below projected k–5 totals, and said that could lead to adjustments.
Why it matters Parents said teacher workload and individualized attention could suffer with larger classes; board members acknowledged the concerns and the district reiterated it will revisit class lists as summer enrollment becomes final. The board encouraged parents to report new registrations or withdrawals to help the district finalize staffing before the school year.
Ending Administrators said they will continue monitoring enrollment through July and August and will make adjustments where possible; parents pressed the board not to treat the larger numbers as “the new normal.”
