The class-size debate continued Wednesday night as officials
presented what they were doing to alleviate larger than normal
class sizes at San Benito High School.
Before the monthly SBHS District Board of Trustees meeting, a
study session on class size was held after Board members requested
it last month. Superintendent Jean Burns Slater and Interim
Principal Duane Morgan discussed hiring teachers who would pick up
some of the slack in sections with big class sizes.
The class-size debate continued Wednesday night as officials presented what they were doing to alleviate larger than normal class sizes at San Benito High School.
Before the monthly SBHS District Board of Trustees meeting, a study session on class size was held after Board members requested it last month. Superintendent Jean Burns Slater and Interim Principal Duane Morgan discussed hiring teachers who would pick up some of the slack in sections with big class sizes.
On Oct. 1 last year, the average class size was 30.1. This Oct. 1, it was 33.1. After more teachers are hired, the average would shrink down to 30.2, Morgan said. As of Oct. 1, there were 551 sections of classes offered. After the hires, Morgan projects the number to be around 560.
Slater attributed the sizes to the state’s troubled economy.
“We have a reduction in funds from the state. We can’t change salaries or benefits (according to the teaching contract). What we can change is class size,” Slater said.
Teachers from various content areas attended the meeting to express their concerns about safety and teaching with class sizes around 35 and 36.
“Labs are big. We do use chemicals that are dangerous,” said Doug Keck, who teaches physics and algebra. “It’s a scary thing to be in charge of.”
Keck said the class sizes are the biggest he’s seen in 20 years.
While safety was on everyone’s minds, some teachers brought up the difficulty of reaching every student they teach.
Math teacher Debra Fisher organizes math tutoring after school. She said she’s tutoring 20 to 30 students every day because they’re getting left behind in such big classes.
“They can’t receive the instruction in the classroom (so they’re having to come in for tutoring),” she said.
When scheduling classes, officials can set a maximum for each class. This year, most maximums were set at 35. Morgan said he was in charge of setting the maximum.
The regular meeting started an hour later.
Morgan presented information on SBHS’s 2003 summer school program. There were 2,000 students enrolled on the first day of school in both the day and night programs. By the last day, there were only 1,443.
“This drop off is pretty typical compared to last year’s numbers,” he said.
Trustee Judy Rider asked if the three-absences policy had anything to do with the decrease in numbers. Morgan said it probably did since students try to balance vacations and getting sick. The state mandates a maximum absence policy during summer school.
Also, some students may fail the first semester of a year-long course and drop out at semester, Morgan said.
Slater presented a report on a review of the district’s budget prepared by School Services of California, an organization that helps California schools meet their management, governance and fiscal responsibilities. The report compares the SBHSD with other districts of similar size in the state.
Among the findings, the SBHSD: has a higher-than-average revenue limit, offers teacher salaries that are close to the top – if not at the top – of comparisons, offers low salaries for classified employees, has seen teacher salaries increase by 39.58 percent during the past seven years, has an average administrative salary expense, has funds for textbooks and supplies that aren’t always spent by the end of the year and has a low carryover each year.
“We have a good life here,” Slater said during the presentation.
The School Services suggested recalculating the revenue limit periodically, as well as reviewing the whole budget on a monthly basis, which the district will start doing, Slater said.
“We need to do more careful monitoring of the budgets,” she said.
In other business
– In closed session, the Board voted 4-0 to suspend the expulsion of a student and put them on a behavioral contract; voted 4-0 to expel a student for the remainder of the school year; and voted 4-0 to deny the interdistrict request appeal of a student. Trustee Steve Hailstone was absent.
– The district recognized 14 teachers who have reached tenure by staying at the district for three years.
– Ruth Erickson, president of the Hollister Airmen’s Association, presented certificates to the Naval Juniors ROTC and the Hollister Police Explorers for their participation in the fourth annual Air Fair and Open House. She also recognized school officials for continuing to accept foreign-exchange students “even though you’re bulging at the seams,” she said.
– The Board showed interest in holding a retreat sometime in November.
– There were no public comments.
– The Board approved 4-0 an agreement with the Monterey Bay Unified Air Pollution Control District to accept a grant of $18,000 to replace two “gas-guzzling” vehicles with electric utility vehicles.
– The Board approved 4-0 a field trip request to New York City and Boston for choir and theater students over part of their spring break. Thirty-six students will attend with 13 chaperones. The students will fund-raise the $1,300 cost of the trip.
The Board will hold a study session on employee evaluations Oct. 29 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The next Board meeting is Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. in Room 172.
