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Edison parents urge Elmhurst D205 board for smaller second‑grade classes
Summary
A parent and elementary teacher told the Elmhurst D205 board that Edison Elementary has second‑grade classes of 26 and 27 students, exceeding a cited K–12 recommended maximum of 25, and urged the board to approve an additional section to reduce class sizes.
Maureen McPherson, an Edison Elementary parent and elementary Spanish teacher, asked the Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Board of Education on April 22 to approve smaller class sizes for her two second‑grade sons.
McPherson told the board she is a third‑generation Elmhurst resident and a certified elementary teacher with two decades of classroom experience. She said Edison currently has two second‑grade sections with 26 and 27 students respectively, and she cited a K–12 recommended class maximum of 25 students. “Twenty‑seven is too many 7‑ and 8‑year‑olds to have in one classroom,” McPherson said, adding that many second graders are not yet independent readers and therefore require closer, more frequent support from teachers.
Why it matters
McPherson argued the larger second‑grade classes make it difficult for teachers to differentiate instruction, manage classroom behavior and meet the needs of students with individualized education programs and English‑language learners. She described last year’s configuration — five first‑grade sections with 18–19 students each — as producing fewer behavior and management issues than the current larger second‑grade classes.
She also referenced recent board minutes, saying she was disappointed the district recommended keeping the same staffing for next year. McPherson urged the board to approve administration’s potential proposal for a third section at Edison next year so students can receive “the smaller class sizes and the individualized education that comes with it.”
Public comment procedure and board response
The district reiterated that public comments are not debated during the meeting but are listened to and considered. McPherson spoke during the allotted public comment period and used approximately three minutes. Board members did not debate classroom staffing during public comment but the public comment was recorded in the meeting record for board consideration.
Clarifying details
- McPherson identified current second‑grade class sizes at Edison as 26 and 27 students. - She cited a K–12 recommended maximum class size of 25. - She requested that the board approve any administrative proposal to add a third second‑grade section at Edison to reduce class sizes.
What the board did and next steps
No vote was taken during public comment. The board’s formal agenda later proceeded with consent items, instructional material adoption, labor agreements and personnel matters. McPherson asked the board to reconsider staffing allocations; any decision about adding a section would require an administrative proposal and a board action at a subsequent agenda if the administration brings forward staffing changes.
Ending
McPherson closed by saying, “Our children deserve the smaller class sizes and the individualized education that comes with it,” and the board noted her comment for follow‑up outside the public‑comment segment and in future staffing discussions.
