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Committee narrows definition in class-size policy, reserves paraprofessional use for emergencies
Summary
The committee recommended IIB to the full board, defining 'educator' as a teacher while allowing certified paraprofessionals to count only in extraordinary circumstances; members flagged statutory exceptions and cross-references to nonresident admission policy.
The Keene School District policy committee advanced policy IIB (class size and student-educator ratios) to the full board after substantial discussion of recent state law changes. Rob summarized the committee's decision: "For the purpose of this policy, educator is defined as a teacher. However, in extraordinary circumstances, the superintendent may use a certified paraprofessional as an educator for the purposes of this policy." Committee members said they did not want non-credentialed staff to become the default way to meet ratio requirements; the committee left limited superintendent discretion for temporary, extraordinary circumstances.
Members reviewed exceptions written into statute — study halls, band/choir/large instructional groups and laboratory classes where ratio is based on workstations — and discussed the particular needs of special-education collaboratives. The committee asked staff to ensure cross-references to JFAB (nonresident admission) reflect how enrollment limits will be applied when open enrollment could affect class capacity.
