Vote Medford 2007

Full Text: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

Classroom size is an important factor in retaining students and enabling them to learn and achieve. Do you think any of Medford's classrooms are overcrowded? What strategies would you use to correct that problem or at least to ensure that classrooms do not become overcrowded in the future?

Attenazio: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

Classroom size is driven by the budget. You want smaller classes, you have to pay for it by adding more teachers. That is a very simple equation. The only other alternative is to cut other programs to be able to decrease class size. Class size is also addressed in the teachers’ contract reflecting some outer limit. My own personal opinion is that classroom size does matter. If there are too many children in one classroom, I do not feel that they are all going to be learning at the same level.

Brady: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

Overall, Class size in Medford has been very good. This has been a priority of the School Committee and the Administration. The average elementary class size is around 20 which is among the best in the state. There may be a popular class that gets a little heavier than the norm, but this not a frequent occurence. We also preserve many smaller classes for special subjects.

Cugno: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

In all, our classroom sizes are not overly crowded. Unfortunately, because of budget restrains classes cannot be kept as small as we would like. This year alone with all the cuts in surrounding cities and towns we have been lucky enough to hire and not fire teachers. One of the strategies that I would like to use in the future to ensure that it does not become a problem is to keep a better track of the incoming student population. We need to make sure that we have enough teacher ratios for our students. If we cannot afford to pay for that service we should advocate in different ways. An example of this would be to assist our teachers by implementing more student teachers in partnership with our surrounding universities.

D'aveta: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

I think Medford is doing well with class size currently. I do worry about a potential baby boom and what that could mean to school class size and to the school budget. Planning for this possibility should take place in the near future.

DiGiantommaso: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

For many years the School Committee has supported small class size 19 - 20 per class. Even with tight fiscal constraints we have maintained class size.

Kulik: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

The elementary classrooms are generally good but should be slightly smaller for the ideal environment. The middle school class size is also reasonable. Some high school classrooms are over crowded, and above contractual limits. There is little else to do except hire the appropriate number of teachers to provide the proper student teacher ratio. At the elementary schools, if one school has fewer students, then we should work to assure a more equitable population. Ideas to address that are provided in my answer to Question 3.

O'Keefe: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

Classroom sizes will always be a slippery slope. Through various federal programs and collective bargaining with the teacher's union, Medford classrooms are for the most part well balanced. As documented in the recent DOE report Medford Public Schools classrooms were appropriate and controls and procedures regarding this were acceptable. Yet, it is imperative that you look at the whole child concept and the particular core curriculum subject when determining student population for education and support services. As inclusion becomes more intuitive, teachers at the elementary levels are going to require additional classroom support. Internships with neighboring colleges such as Tufts, Emerson, and elsewhere has provided resources and this opportunity should be expanding if there is a need for certain subjects. At private schools in the community, the enrollment for classrooms are much larger compared to our public school system. Central Administrations goal as well as the school committee's goal has always been to keep classroom sizes down and monitor this topic so there is a consistency across the grades and among different schools.

Pompeo: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

Most class sizes in Medford are in the 19-22 range. Some specialty classes are smaller, particularly in the elementary grades, while popular courses at the secondary level may be in the 25-28 range.

Skerry: (Q14) Strategies Against Classroom Overcrowding

Class size in Medford is very good. Overall it is among the best in the state.

Currently (07-08) class size in the elementary schools is approximately 19-20 per class.

Class size remains good at the middle and high school as well compared to other area school systems.

There are several smaller classes for specialty classes that have been preserved despite budgetary constraints.

Occasionally there is a popular course or two that is larger than the average in the secondary schools.