Parents Turn Out to Express Concerns over Growing Class Size

Monday night’s School Committee meeting drew the attention of a few concerned parents after word spread regarding an increase in the kindergarten class sizes. In what is considered an unusual case, 24 new kindergarten students were registered after Sept. 1. The last-minute additions created an inflation in classroom size, with an end result of four, 26 student classrooms and two, 25 student classrooms. All six classrooms have a teacher and a full time ESP, resulting in a 13:1 ratio.

“The growing class size was shocking to me at first, and this will be challenging for both students who are advanced and those who are less advanced,” said parent, Natalia Rakhmanova. “One teacher and an ESP (Educational Support Personnel) for 26 students is not enough for what they need and it’s above the state limit. Advanced kids will be bored, and it will lead them to trouble and struggling kids will lack the push that they need. I’m concerned for both sides and the average students as well.”

Winthrop is one of 293 communities in the commonwealth that provide free all-day kindergarten, saving families anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 per school year. In 2010, the school committee voted to have this benefit available for local students, and it was instituted at the start of the 2010-2011 school year. Prior to this decision, parents were required to pay $2,300 to send their children to the all-day kindergarten program.

“These students have to learn how to read and this is not something to mess around with. If we are worried about MCAS scores down the road we need to start now,” said Shannon Viera, who has three children, one of whom is in kindergarten this year. “I want to see that seventh teacher restored, I challenge you to make that happen.”

School Superintendent Lisa Howard, Gorman Fort Banks Principal Ilene Pearson, and the kindergarten teachers, as well as the school committee members, have been working diligently to resolve the concerns amongst parents.

“My hope is that the sharing of ideas will lead to the support the students need given the larger class size,” said Howard, who is in the process of brainstorming with fellow staff members. “Our number one priority is student safety, teaching and learning.”