Parents and teachers press board on class size as administration reviews enrollments and staffing

A third-grade teacher and union representative urged the Perkiomen Valley board to revisit class-size ranges as administrators presented current enrollment projections and staffing plans.

"I come to you this evening to talk about class size... I would ask that we look at those ranges and see if they are appropriate for a post COVID student population," William McGill, a district third-grade teacher and the Perkiomen Valley Education Association president, said during public comment.

Administration presented enrollment data (real-time as of May 30), explained how class-size policy (Policy 126) guides allocations, and described the range of supports used to manage classroom needs, including paraprofessionals, co-teaching models, gifted services and targeted intervention pull-outs. Dr. Russell noted that elementary grades receive priority for smaller class sizes and that principals are reviewing building-level cohort composition and resources.

Board members questioned how parents who submitted concerns were being engaged; administration said it will prepare a public response and continue to monitor enrollments through the summer. Members discussed whether policy changes on permitted class-size maxima are warranted and whether building reallocations or personnel additions would be needed; administration said it has, on rare occasions, added staff after the school year began but that is unconventional and the district prefers to finalize staffing before school starts.

Administrators said they would return with more detailed data on specific cohorts and potential staff requests if enrollment changes require it. The discussion did not produce a policy change at the meeting but set the groundwork for further review and possible August action if numbers shift.