By VICTORIA A. CARUSO
The Merrick Board of Education recently voted six to one in favor of reducing class size for fourth-graders. The board also voted unanimously in favor of a motion to send the district's class size policy for kindergarten through sixth grade back to the Policy Committee for review.
With fourth-grade enrollment at the Roland Chatterton Elementary School expected to decrease during the 2000-2001 school year, the district has proposed reducing the number of fourth- grade classes from four to three. Parents of incoming fourth-graders, however, expressed concern that the elimination of the one section would result in overcrowded classes.
As a result, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ronald Smith presented the board with two proposals: one to reduce the class size policy for the fourth grade, beginning in September; and another to have the Policy Committee take a look at class size for all grades.
At the district's Tuesday, August 22 meeting, the Merrick Board of Education approved lowering the number of fourth-graders per class from 27 to 25, the same as second and third grade. Kindergarten and first grade will remain at 22 and fifth and sixth at 27. District policy also allows class six in kindergarten through sixth grade to exceed the maximum number by one in all sections but the last. For the 2000-2001 school year, the Merrick School District has proposed four fourth-grade classes at Birch, four at Chatterton, and four at the Norman J. Levy Lakeside School.
Michael Weinick, current vice president of the Merrick Board of Education, opposed the motion to reduce fourth-grade class size, saying he did not feel it was right to "single out one grade just because [fourth-graders] get tested."
Although opposed to the immediate change in the fourth-grade class size policy, Mr. Weinick did not vote against reviewing the district's policy across the board. "I am all in favor of smaller classes," said Mr. Weinick. "Maybe every grade will need to be lowered. But before we do that, certain things, such as if it's worth it and what it will cost taxpayers, need to be taken into consideration."
Parents of Merrick students, however, hope that lowering the class size policy for the fourth grade is the district's first step toward reducing class size in all grades. "I believe in order to prepare students we have to start in kindergarten," said Felicia Berger, mother of a first- and third-grader at the Birch School. "Seeing class size is disappointing as a taxpayer."
Dianne Rosenblum, whose children are in first and fourth grade at Birch, agreed. "Fourth grade is a start," said Ms. Rosenblum. "I'd like to see all grades dropped down. In order to prepare students, we have to prepare them at an early age."
According to school district officials, class size in grades kindergarten through sixth at the Chatterton, Birch and Lakeside Schools will be examined toward the second week in September. Review of the district's overall class size policy by the Policy Committee will begin during the 2000-2001 school year.
