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Sachem board debates lowering elementary class-size targets; district projects $900K–$1.5M impact
Summary
Administrators told the board that lowering K–5 target class sizes by one section would require nine additional teachers (about $900,000); lowering by two would require roughly 15 additional teachers (about $1.5 million). Board members discussed tradeoffs, splitting sections, adding TAs or aides, and monitoring through Labor Day.
Administrators and board members spent a substantial portion of the June 17 meeting discussing elementary class-size targets and the budgetary implications of reducing them.
"If we were to... lower our target numbers by one, we would need nine additional teachers, which would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $900,000," said Andy, the administrator providing the class-size projections. He added that dropping targets by two would require about 15 additional teachers and "1.5 million dollars roughly." The board reviewed current target numbers: kindergarten 24, first grade 25, second 25, third 26, fourth 27 and fifth 28 for the 2026–27 school year.
Board members voiced competing priorities. Jessica said she wants class-size reduction prioritized as finances improve: "I really just hope it's on the forefront of everyone's mind because I think we should really be focusing on quality education and giving our teachers... the best chance for these kids to intervene young and have the best outcomes." Other members urged fiscal caution, noting the district has only recently stabilized after multi-year cuts and expressed concern about recurring budget pressures.
Administrators and board members discussed alternatives to adding full-time teachers, including splitting sections where feasible, adding teaching assistants (TAs), and monitoring enrollment through Labor Day before final staffing decisions. The board received per-role cost guidance during the discussion: an instructional aid approximately $25,000, a TA about $60,000 and a teacher roughly $100,000, figures administrators presented to help model options.
The board did not adopt a new target at this meeting. Administrators said they will continue monitoring registrations through the summer, and final staffing decisions and any budget adjustments will be considered closer to the fall and the next budgeting cycle.
