Class Size and Test Scores Remain Hot Topics

The school year started with a different look this year and Sayville students, parents, staff and administration are starting to feel the effects of the tightened budget.

The recent Superintendent's Roundtable brought many issues to light, especially at the elementary level. In addition to the shortened lunch and recess time for the elementary students, parents class sizes and the new state cut scores, which resulted in 226 more students needing Academic Intervention Services (AIS), were also discussed.

In terms of class size, the breakdown over the three elementary schools is: Kindergarten – 223 enrolled in 10 sections with a high of 25 and a low of 20 per class; Grade 1 – 212 children in nine sections with a high of 24 and a low of 22; Grade 2 – 246 children in 10 sections with a high of 26 and a low of 21; Grade 3 – 234 enrolled in 11 sections with a high of 22 and a low of 20; Grade 4 – 247 kids in 11 sections with sizes ranging from 26 down to 21; and Grade 5 – 254 students in 11 sections ranging from 25 to 21 per class.

The elimination of the shared areas is one reason for the fluctuations in class size from school to school. Children are now placed in their zoned area, regardless of how many students are registered. The only exception is if someone registered over the summer, and the classes were already filled to capacity, they would then be designated to another elementary school, said Dr. Walter Schartner, superintendent.

Parents expressed their concerns over the size of the kindergarten classes, specifically at Cherry Avenue, over the summer. The kindergarten aides were added back for two hours to help offset the larger classes. The roundtable was initially set up to focus on the classroom size, but class size took a backseat to other issues, such as the new cut scores and added AIS for more than 200 students.

A longer growth model will be implemented this year in math and ELA. Third-grade students will now require an hour of reading comprehension and an hour of essay writing and 20 percent of teacher evaluations will be based on those results.

"I added AIS to the list of things to discuss tonight because to me it is the most concerning," Schartner said. "We need our kids and our teachers to be successful and their success is measured by this test. It is important that we give them the resources to be successful. Unfortunately, we don't have an unlimited pot of money. So we have to choose. The budget process is not going to be any easier this year."

With the new cut scores, many children who've been above average in the past have now fallen below the requirements. Parents expressed that it is disheartening to watch their children, who once excelled, now be singled out for services. "The AIS services come in a number of different forms," said Dr. Geraldine Sullivan-Keck, Assistant Superintendent. "It's not always about the child being pulled out of the classroom. Most of it takes place in small groups in the classroom. Some of it is about the teacher's approach to that student. As the state changed the cut scores, students who were once a level 3 or 4 are now a level 2. It's like a child who gets a 95 on every test and thinks they are getting an A. On the day before grades go out, the teacher says they need a 98 to get an A."

The district is set to receive $880,000 for jobs over the next two years. Dr. Sullivan-Keck would like to see some of that money used toward AIS. "We need to spend money on AIS so we are doing what we say we are doing – helping every child. But we need the staff," she said.

Board of Education vice president Maureen Dolan added, "If we have a tax cap in Sayville, there will be no choices. We tried very hard to keep our tax levy low, but who is going to pay for our children's education?"

The district has always steered away from teaching to the test. "When we saw the cut scores coming in, we knew the teachers would be devastated," Sullivan-Keck said. "But there are certain needs that must be met and we must now do it in a certain way."

Dr. Schartner urged parents to get more involved. The district is thinking of launching a Facebook page that will link directly to the district's home page. Another way to stay informed is through the Parent Portal on the site. "Come to the board of education meetings, be involved," he said. "Look at the website – all the information is there."