Elmbrook Class Sizes Could Grow, Multi-Grade Class Possible

Class sizes at Elmbrook School District could rise next fall, and other money-saving options are being reviewed at the elementary schools, such as creating multi-grade classes at Burleigh Elementary School.

Superintendent Matt Gibson introduced his draft 2011-12 school district budget — a fluid document that will be altered as late as next October after Elmbrook learns its so-called "third Friday" enrollment numbers. 

Much can change between now and then, but Elmbrook is seriously considering increasing class sizes to the maximums or slightly beyond in order to offset declining revenues.

"The average K-12 class size is expected to rise from 23.8 to 25.4," Gibson told the School Board. 

Class sizes would rise from 22 to 24 at the elementary schools, from 27 to 28 in the middle school houses and from 24 to 25.5 at the high schools, according to a memo by Christine Hedstrom, assistant superintendent for human resources.

"That is where a lot of the savings is in the budget," Gibson said. "We didn't want that, but when you're cutting a budget by $4.2 million, it's hard to avoid that."

He added: "It's not dramatic increases in class sizes, but I think it's something we need to watch."

Here are more details from Hedstrom's memo:

Due in part to a projected decrease of 95 students next fall, about 30 fewer teachers would be employed by the district. About 50 employees have asked to retire, and some would not be replaced, such as three music teachers.

Of the staff reductions, nine to 13 would come from elementary schools, about six or seven from middle schools, and nine to 10 from the high schools. 

At Burleigh and Tonawanda elementary schools, "high class sizes at ... fourth grades could be combined with the smaller fifth grades to smooth out those class sizes, resulting in a multi-grade classroom," Hedstrom wrote.

The multi-grade classrooms would have 26 or 27 students, slightly less than the 29- or 30-student classroom that would be created with just fourth graders due to their large numbers.