Parents, teachers and a student tell Chula Vista board higher class sizes would harm students

Dozens of parents, teachers and a fourth‑grade student urged the Chula Vista Elementary School District Board of Education to reject proposed increases to class sizes, saying bigger classes would reduce individualized instruction and jeopardize student safety.

At public comment, Heather Galana, who identified herself as the parent of children in third and sixth grade, told trustees that teachers are “educators, mentors, friends, family” and that raising class sizes signals the district does not care about teachers’ physical and mental well‑being. “These students already have too many, these teachers have too many students and very little support,” she said.

Robin Alcoba, a parent of three district students, described combined‑grade classrooms and said they “force teachers to be in two grades at once” and that children with individualized education plans risk being left without needed support. Everett, a fourth‑grade student who spoke to the board, said large combined classes make him feel “invisible” and asked the board to consider the student experience in decisions about class size.

Teachers across the district told the board they are managing heavier workloads, longer days and growing lists of students with IEPs and behavioral needs. One speaker said the district recently indicated the elimination of certain behavior‑assistant or temporary positions could affect “approximately 40 employees,” a change teachers warned would increase demands on classroom teachers and weaken supports for vulnerable learners.

Trustees did not take a substantive vote on class‑size policy during the meeting. They did, however, vote earlier to limit public comment to two minutes per speaker to accommodate the long public turnout; that procedural motion passed 3–2.

Why it matters: Research and local teachers’ testimony cited at the meeting tie smaller class sizes to more individualized instruction, higher inclusion fidelity and better opportunities for early readers — outcomes parents and teachers said are at risk if class sizes increase. Trustees asked staff for reports and follow‑up presentations on combined grades and staffing, and staff committed to school‑by‑school details in forthcoming updates.

What’s next: The board requested a detailed report breaking down class sizes, combined‑grade assignments and staffing gaps; staff said they will provide a school‑by‑school materials and staffing update at an upcoming briefing and a fuller presentation at a future board meeting.