Teachers and parents urge Owen J. Roberts board to avoid enlarging second‑grade classes

Multiple speakers at the June 24 public comment period pressed the Owen J. Roberts School District to address second‑grade class‑size concerns for 2024‑25.

Leah Salzer, speaking on behalf of the Roberts Education Association, said teachers had identified cases in three elementary schools where first‑grade classroom reductions (from four to three teachers) would push second‑grade rosters from roughly 18–20 students to 24–26 next year, increasing student‑to‑teacher ratios at a critical developmental stage. "These same students will find themselves with 24 to 26 students in a classroom at an age so important to learning the fundamental skills of math, reading, writing," she said.

Seth Buas, identified in the transcript as president of the Roberts Education Association, asked the district to consider an exception to board policy for 2024‑25 by approving three additional second‑grade teachers at French Creek, West Vincent and North Coventry to relieve impacted classes.

Eric Borom, a parent and lawyer, described his son’s progress in a smaller class and cited research (as referenced verbally) linking smaller K–3 class sizes to better long‑term outcomes; he urged the board not to consolidate classes in a way that would negatively affect children’s learning and social‑emotional development.

Board members acknowledged receipt of emails from staff and said enrollment, staffing and budget planning occur over many months; the board asked administration to provide updated enrollment and staffing details (including what meetings have occurred and the data that informed the staffing plan) in Boardline/BoardDocs for future consideration. No policy change or motion to alter staffing was taken at the meeting.

The board noted that the planned implementation of full‑day kindergarten will affect future planning and that any adjustments to policy or staffing will be discussed in upcoming budget cycles and working sessions.