By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Three teachers implored Bowling Green Board of Education Tuesday to maintain staffing levels to keep class sizes smaller.
The teachers thanked Superintendent Francis Scruci for recognizing that smaller class sizes would help students and teachers as they tried to catch up from a year of online learning. They asked that the board continue to support that decision.
“I would like to personally thank you for making that decision,” said September Killy, who teaches second grade at Crim Elementary.
The more manageable size classrooms allowed teachers to help meet the mental health needs of their students, still struggling with pandemic issues, Killy said. It allowed teachers to tailor their instructions based on a wide range of learning needs, and play catch up in areas such as reading.
“With smaller classes we were able to help many students make significant progress,” she said.
The year of learning remotely made it difficult for teachers to identify some students’ needs. But returning to smaller classes helped.
“This was critical for our students with special needs,” Killy said.
Bob Marzola, fifth grade teacher at Conneaut Elementary, echoed the thanks for retaining last year’s teaching staff numbers.
“It has helped out immensely,” Marzola said.
Though the students are back in the classroom, they are struggling to catch up academically and with mental health issues, which can be time consuming for teachers to handle properly, he explained.
“I stand before you today, very passionately,” asking the district to continue smaller class sizes, Marzola said. He asked that when going into executive session to discuss staffing issues, that the board make no or minimal changes to current staffing.
Kisha Nichols, a second grade teacher at Kenwood Elementary, cautioned the board about becoming a “revolving door of new educators.” The board has indicated it wants Bowling Green to be a “destination district” for teachers, she said. But to do that, the board needs to act soon.
“This is the time of the year teachers need to think about next year. Some of the teachers have started to look” at other districts since they aren’t sure if Bowling Green intends to retain them, Nichols said.
Teachers are worried the board isn’t as committed to small class sizes as they were last year, she said.
Nichols also asked that the board make minimal moves of teachers to other grade levels, since that impacts the quality of instruction.
After the board meeting, before going into executive session to discuss employment compensation, Board President Jill Carr said she understood the teachers’ requests for smaller class sizes.
“I think it’s a very legitimate request. We will discuss it as a board,” Carr said. “Personally, I’m in favor of it.”
Scruci said the maximum class sizes allowed in the district are 24 students in kindergarten through third grade, 27 in fourth and fifth grades, and 30 for middle and high school.
“Obviously with smaller class sizes there are so many benefits,” Scruci said – especially with the increased needs in reading, mental health and behavioral issues.
But Scruci also said the district needs to consider finances. “We have to balance what is fiscally responsible.”
