To address an unantipicated enrollment increase, San Benito High
School officials are trying to rearrange schedules to hire more
teachers and reduce class sizes.
SBHS Interim Principal Duane Morgan presented school enrollment
figures for the last month during last week’s Board of Trustees
meeting. The first day of this school year, 2,888 students enrolled
at SBHS, not including the school’s new independent study program.
That number was 2,774 Thursday, excluding the independent study
program.
To address an unantipicated enrollment increase, San Benito High School officials are trying to rearrange schedules to hire more teachers and reduce class sizes.
SBHS Interim Principal Duane Morgan presented school enrollment figures for the last month during last week’s Board of Trustees meeting. The first day of this school year, 2,888 students enrolled at SBHS, not including the school’s new independent study program. That number was 2,774 Thursday, excluding the independent study program.
“It’s amazing how these numbers ebb and flow and move,” Morgan said.
Compared to the same time last year – Sept. 24 – there are 90 more students, he said.
With increased enrollment comes larger class sizes. Analyzing class size by subject area reveals numbers more telling than the overall 23:1 student-to-teacher ratio, said Clete Bradford, SBHS math teacher.
By looking at each grade level at each class period in each subject area – English, math, social science and science – Bradford calculated the average class size by department.
The average size for English classes is 33.5, math is 32.7, science is 33.1 and social science is 34.2.
“I’m concerned that class sizes are too high,” Bradford said.
While Superintendent Jean Burns Slater reminded Bradford that the 23:1 student-teacher ratio does not violate the teacher contract of 31:1, Bradford said he wasn’t worried about the contract, but about student success.
Science teacher Mike Carroll discussed his concern with the Board of Trustees about having 35 students in his chemistry classes when labs are supposed to be capped at 20 for safety reasons.
Trustee Bill Tiffany asked to see how class-size numbers compare to past years. District staff will report on that information, breaking numbers down the way Bradford did, at the next Board meeting.
Bradford asked the Board why the district can’t spend some of the $1 million carry over from last school year to hire more teachers to reduce class size. Slater said the district needs to be cautious and anticipate more budget cuts.
Slater said the district is hiring new staff for English 10 and 12, algebra I, social science and physical education. Once all are hired, district officials must decide whether to move students into smaller classes then or at the semester break – whichever would be less disruptive to students.
Slater asked three students in the audience which they prefer. All said smaller class sizes were better, but recognized that some classes may be ahead of others in the curriculum in the middle of the semester.
In other business:
– In closed session after the open meeting, the Board voted 5-0 to expel three students from SBHS for the rest of the school year.
Also, the Board granted the interdistrict transfer appeal of one student out of the district and postponed a decision on a second appeal because the student and their parents did not attend.
– Slater presented plaques to staff members Mercedes Berglund and Dave Tari commending them for their quick response and skills in aiding a heart attack victim at a SBHS football game Sept. 5.
“People in your situation are highly valued,” Slater said.
The next Board meeting is Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. in room 172.
