Baldwin school board may increase class size limit, cut late buses to save money next year

Baldwin school board officials are anticipating raising the class size limit at the elementary schools and eliminating high school late buses in an effort to keep expenditures down during a turbulent economic climate.

But with spending increases seen largely in contractual obligations for teachers and administrators and not much elsewhere, officials are expected to adopt the 2010-11 proposed budget on Wednesday with a relatively low increase of about 2.75 percent.

Close to 40 residents crammed into every possible space of the Baldwin District Office at the March 16 school board meeting, many of them expressing concern over the district's proposal to increase elementary school class sizes.

Officials are looking to increase the class size limit by one student — from 22 to 23 — for grades K-2; and by two students — 25 to 27 — for grades 3-5. That does not mean that all classes will have the maximum number of students, officials explained, because not all classes are at full capacity. The savings from this action would be approximately $1 million, officials said.

Board president Mary Jo O'Hagan said she understood residents' concerns about raising the class size limit, but added that trustees have worked hard to reduce spending responsibly. Changes could be made to the proposed budget up to March 24, O'Hagan explained, but the board's proposals were likely to stand unless a more viable plan was presented.

"We had to look at some very, very painful cost-cutting measures," she said. "We tried to select those that had the least impact on quality of education."

The March 24 meeting — at which trustees will review the revenue portion of the budget, give an overall budget recap, and vote on adoption of the budget — will be held at 8 p.m. at the Baldwin District Office.