Parents, substitute teachers and principals urge Winthrop School Board to address rising class sizes as enrollment climbs

Parents, a substitute teacher and school principals told the Winthrop School Board on Tuesday that rising enrollment and recent staffing reductions have pushed some Winthrop classrooms into the low-20s and are harming instruction and staff morale.

"I've been subbing in the Winthrop School K to 12 for the last I think five years ... it's challenging as a sub and it's challenging. I can see the fatigue on some of the staff," said Trisha Hitz Lefountain, who identified herself as a Manchester resident and frequent substitute (public comment).

Several speakers tied the classroom-size concerns directly to the FY27 budget proposals. "I was looking through your documents from last meeting and I really am concerned about some of those class sizes getting up into the 20s," said Amanda Lebec (online), who urged the board to explore options to add teachers to reduce teacher burnout.

Parent Amelia Arnold, whose children attend Winthrop Grade School, told the board the district has seen a rapid enrollment increase. "Last year during the budget presentations they cited that Winthre grade school had 371 students. Now this year, I just learned tonight it's over 420. And for next year, the numbers are projected to be 423," she said, arguing the board should restore classroom teachers rather than reduce positions such as a peak-enrichment teacher from full time to half time.

School leaders who presented FY27 budgets acknowledged the enrollment pressure. Principal Dufour told the board class sizes "swing anywhere as high as 25" for some sections and said science lab supplies were depleted by last year's budget freeze. Principal Violet said the elementary enrollment runs roughly "about 400 students" in her count but acknowledged the figure is volatile.

Middle-school Principal Lori Snell described attempts to preserve services with a conservative budget, proposing to repurpose an existing edtech 3 position into a half-time library edtech plus a half-time math interventionist to meet growing academic needs.

Board members responded by asking for concrete numbers. "I support Tim's request to see what it would look like to add an additional teacher, especially since our enrollment continues to climb," said a board member during discussion. The chair asked the superintendent to produce updated budget scenarios showing the fiscal impact of adding another teacher at the grade school and to present the numbers at the next meeting.

The board did not take a final budget vote at this meeting; the request to return with updated staffing-cost scenarios was recorded as a direction to the superintendent to inform the board's upcoming deliberations.

What happens next: The superintendent will return with the estimated fiscal increase associated with hiring an additional grade-school teacher so the board can consider whether to amend the FY27 budget request.