Parents press Berlin Central on class-size reductions and supports for students with IEPs

At the budget hearing, parent Nikki Day urged the district not to reduce third-grade sections from three to two, saying larger classes would "disadvantage" students and make it harder to meet the needs of children with individualized education plans. "Overcrowding in a third grade classroom means that average and young students will be disadvantaged," Nikki Day said, adding that a high number of district students have special needs.

Another parent, Casey, asked how the district will ensure both struggling and advanced students receive support if class sizes increase. "How are you gonna get every kid what they need in a class?" Casey asked.

The Moderator described how the district uses data-driven instruction and a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to identify student needs. "We are measuring that three times a year, and then they are taking dedicated time with the teams of teachers'working with" grade-level teams to determine interventions, the Moderator said. The Moderator also said reductions were coordinated with building leadership and that the district considered counts of IEPs and co-taught sections when planning staffing changes.

Officials acknowledged limits on resources but said they expect building principals and teachers to coordinate supports within the available staffing and funding. The public commenters pressed for clearer details on how specific high-need students would be assigned and supported under the proposed section reductions.