Reflecting a trend observed around the state, more than 100
parents and teachers lobbied local school officials Tuesday, asking
them not to eliminate class-size reduction in Hollister
schools.
Reflecting a trend observed around the state, more than 100 parents and teachers lobbied local school officials Tuesday, asking them not to eliminate class-size reduction in Hollister schools.
The Hollister School District is facing cuts of about $1.5 million from its budget for the 2003-04 school year. Parents and teachers, fearing that class-size reduction in the district is on the chopping block, flocked to the district’s Board meeting Tuesday night hoping to persuade trustees not to cut the program in the district’s eight schools.
In his May revise of the state budget, Gov. Gray Davis did not cut the class-size reduction program budget. As long as the state does not cut funding, the HSD plans to continue the program, said Dean Bubar, director of business and operations.
Speaking prior to a report on the budget situation, more than 20 people professed the popularity and benefits of class-size reduction, especially in kindergarten.
“I urge you not to turn back the clock,” said Michal Cook, a kindergarten teacher at Ladd Lane School. “This is not your mom and dad’s kindergarten anymore. We’re presenting first-grade curriculum to 4- and 5-year-olds. In a class of 20, it’s doable.”
Currently, schools receive money from the state to keep schoolwide class averages at 20 students per teacher in grades K through 3. Because school districts put in their own money to operate the program, any cut in state funding would make it difficult for many districts to offer the program, especially with less money coming in next year.
Smaller class sizes have allowed for more teaching of state content standards. With more than 30 students in a classroom, these standards would be impossible to teach, teachers and parents said Tuesday.
Kristen Damm recited benefits of class-size reduction – improved student test scores, increased parental involvement, higher teacher retention and a narrowed achievement gap.
“Students are less disruptive and more on task,” she said. “There are 15 (separate) studies in California that show that those who do better are those who have been exposed to smaller classes.”
Teachers and parents spoke positively about how fewer students in a classroom means more individual attention and better assessment of what the students are learning. Also, an increasing population of students with special needs means bigger classes could cause students to get left behind.
Kindergarten teacher Mary Beth Edwards, who is retiring this year, said a teacher could have one or two special-needs children decades ago, but might now have four or five in one class. Administrators also need to take into account that not all students go to preschool, she said.
Class-size reduction is less than 10 years old, but many testify to its success in today’s students. Parent Stephanie Loyd told the Board how one of her children was “left behind” before being enrolled in classes with fewer students.
Most who attended the meeting said they would like to see the class-size reduction program expanded to fourth and fifth grades.
After more than an hour of speakers, Bubar presented a report on budget assumptions and proposed cuts and reductions. Based on current information and parts of Davis’ revised budget proposal, Bubar is expecting Hollister schools to receive $1.5 million less for 2003-04 than 2002-03.
“We haven’t had the info to prepare the budget (as usual),” Bubar said. “The numbers are all floating in the air.”
Based on assumptions, Bubar sees a decrease in state, lottery and local revenue with a small increase in federal revenue for next year. Enrollment is expected to increase by 1 percent, bringing in some more money per student. The district is also looking at an increase of 36 percent in employee benefit costs.
Bubar presented proposed budget reductions, the culmination of brainstorming by the district’s budget committee and administrators. The estimated savings come to $1.3 million, including $255,000 from retirements and resignations, $90,000 from not filling vice principal positions, $325,000 from changing the staffing ratio in grades four through eight from 32:1 to 33:1 and $75,000 from reducing district departmental budgets by 12 percent.
“I’m happy because it was only two weeks ago that we were looking at cutting over $2 million,” Bubar said.
Trustee Dee Brown suggested offering incentives to increase schools’ Average Daily Attendance, bringing in more money per student. Schools are given state money based on ADA, not actual enrollment. Increasing ADA can bring in up to $500,000, Brown said.
“It’s something everybody could do that would make a big difference,” she said.
In more good financial news, Bill Jordan, director of human resources, announced that 12 teachers served with final layoff notices May 15 will be rehired, partly because of recent resignations and retirements within the district.
In other business:
Parents and teachers urged the district to keep the Early Childhood Education Center.
With a staff contract nearing its June 30 deadline, union president Amy Holland handed out contract language to the Board and administrators. Holland urged the district to participate in good-faith negotiations, adhere to the present contract and not rescind offers, as she said has been done in the past
Sunnyslope School administrators gave a digital presentation on “What Makes Sunnyslope School a Special Place for Students.”
Trustees approved 22 consent items, including personnel actions, district warrants, the hiring of summer school coordinators and teachers, a 2002-03 revision of the Gabilan Hills School Plan and four field trips.
The next board meeting will be June 24 at 6 p.m. at the district office, 2690 Cienega Road.
