By LARRY MAIER
Dr. Weiss asked the school board to consider a full-day K program and reduce class sizes in grades K-5, both for the 2001-02 school year. The superintendent made her proposal based on the findings of two research committees created in September to study the feasibility of instituting the programs in the district.
"There is no doubt in my mind that both full-day Kindergarten and reducing class sizes would have a positive impact on our students," Dr. Weiss, said at the meeting at Lenox School. "It would give us the time we need and the student-teacher ratio we need to accomplish all the things that we want to have for our kids."
The superintendent's recommendation was viewed as a compromise by most in attendance and was met with mixed reactions, including criticism, from many in favor of class size reduction. When given the opportunity to address the school board, class size reduction proponents were far more vocal than their full-day K counterparts. They claimed that smaller class sizes would be more beneficial, impacting students for five years rather than just one year in full-day K.
When reached for comment the day after the meeting, members of both committees had even more to say about the compromise.
According to Lorraine Zellar-Agostino, the class size reduction committee is concerned that, in an effort to make the superintendent's proposal work within the budget, the school board might move further away from her committee's suggested class size numbers. "I hope that the board will not dilute what the superintendent has recommended," said Ms. Zellar-Agostino. (See sidebar for a summary of recommendations)
"We are pleased that the superintendent made the recommendation for class size reduction, but we are a little disappointed she didn't go all the way," said Patricia Bailey, who suggested that the proposed class size cuts did not go deep enough.
Those in favor of full-day Kindergarten were less critical of Dr. Weiss' was calling for.
"Yes, it is a compromise, but I think that 22 to 25 students in a class is a very acceptable number," said Felice Barrick, in response to criticism of the proposal by class size reduction committee members.
"I think we should be happy with whatever they give us," said Jan Landstrom. "Everyone got something."
Deborah Martin, principal of Milburn School and chairwomen of the full-day K committee, was concern that her committee's passion did not show at the recent meeting.
"What I saw when working with members of the full-day K committee was not evident to the board of education and the community," said Ms. Martin, who added that one reason for her committee's relative silence may have been that the superintendent's recommendation was very close to what was asked for by the full-day K committee.
The matter is now in the hands of the school board, who will study both committee proposals and the superintendent's recommendation. Baldwin residents will have more opportunities to voice their opinions, at the Jan. 10 school board meeting in the Brookside School and the Jan. 31 community input meeting at Baldwin Senior High School.
