Schools

Comsewogue Superintendent Addresses Kindergarten Class Size Concerns

Average class sizes are within acceptable ranges, according to school officials.

This story was written by Christine Sampson.

In a message posted Tuesday on the Comsewogue school district website, superintendent Joseph Rella assured families that kindergarten class sizes at Norwood Elementary are within acceptable ranges and that all students would receive all the support they need this year.

Average class size projections were in the low to mid-20s heading into this year, Rella said, and actual average class sizes for this coming year are developing as follows:

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  • Norwood Avenue – 22

  • Clinton – 23

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  • Boyle – 25

  • Terryville – 25

  • Kindergarten at Norwood, which will have six sections this year, is averaging 24 students per section, Rella said. If another section were to be added, it would bring the average down to about 20 – however, it would require adding additional sections at the other elementary schools.

    “This would be the only fair thing to do,” Rella said. However, he said, “Our budget will not support all those additions.”

    The school district adopted the Princeton Plan going into the 2012-13 school year, which meant consolidating grades K-2 into two elementary schools and grades 3-5 into the other two elementary schools, to save money.

    Rella said that teachers may receive support from aides or certified elementary school substitute teachers.

    “As we have done in prior years, we will continue to provide additional support for the classroom teacher ... especially during the literacy periods at the beginning of the day,” Rella said. “... We will also continue to monitor class sizes and add more resources (including additional sections) as necessary for all grades k-12.”


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