Responding to parent concerns of potentially crowded classrooms at Watson Elementary School, the Rockville Centre School Board on Tuesday adopted a new policy that will allow children whose average class size exceeds 23 students to go to another school.
Parents that are concerned about their child’s classroom size may apply to the district by Aug. 1 to have their pupil go to a classroom where there are 19 students or less. Siblings of the student may attend the new school as well, as long as the receiving class average doesn’t exceed 23 students. The schools superintendent has the final say on whether to allow the request. If granted, the district will continue providing transportation to the child to their new school if they live 0.8 miles from the building.
“We’re trying to balance things out across the school district,” said Superintendent Dr. William Johnson. “Every year, we hear parents concern about classroom size. This may be a way to alleviate that.”
Parents who spoke at the board meeting said they appreciated the district’s new policy. A few parents said the district should go further, either by allowing classes to be balanced on the first day of school or redistricting. District officials were leery of these suggestions, saying they’ve unsuccessfully tried them in the past.
The board also agreed to add another section of kindergarten at Watson School, following parents’ concerns. To accommodate the new section, the building’s art and music room will be reconfigured into a classroom. Art and music supplies will be put on a cart in the meantime. Johnson said it’s a temporary solution for two years.
“It’s money well spent because that room needed improvement,” School Board Trustee John O’Shea said. “It’s a win-win.”
A new section of kindergarten will also be added at Wilson Elementary School.
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