Question #4
What is your approach to fix class size issues in many of our schools?
Doyle Costello District #1
Multiple studies have been done that show the importance of small class size not only for academics but for teacher retention and to help stop bullying behaviors in the classrooms. High risk students need to be of the highest importance for our district. Teacher aides are a necessary first step. Class within a class, charter schools, magnet schools- all of these are on the table.
Keith S. Gryboski District #1
I agree that class size is an issue. In our programs, we limit the maximum to 30 students. We know that working with 25 is easier. It is all an equation as to subject matter and resources. I am not on the board, as such I do not have the information they have. I see a $700,000,000 budget and other potential resources. I can not give you a solution until I am fully up to speed on why we have over crowding in some schools. It is a critical issue, one that falls into the need to provide a safe learning environment while the students are in our care.
Elizabeth Moffly District #2
If we aligned our hs credits to higher ed admission requirements we could add an additional teacher to our larger class sizes.
Sarah Shad Johnson District #2
Smaller class size is a priority for me, and to get there is a matter of finances. If we have a school board that understands the huge benefit of smaller class size, or two teachers per classroom, then more spending can be directed that way.
Many of our schools are at or near capacity, so smaller class size may not always work. In those situations, the approach may be to have two teachers per classroom.
Overcrowded schools is a matter I have much experience with, as the former chair of the District 2 Constituent Board. In addition to advocating for smaller class size, I will be working towards better planning for facilities.
Seana J. Flynn District #2
Again, this will require thinking outside of the box and relying on the community. It can often seem to be a dog-and-pony show to transition into or re-enter the teaching profession. We need to support any professional who has interest in teaching and create a variety of pathways to achieve this goal.
Grace Bouldin Cowan District #2
Did not respond
Ed Kelly District #2
Did not respond
EJ Milligan District #2
Did not respond
Chris Collins District #3
I personally prefer smaller class sizes as the the budget allows us to promote.
Pam Mckinney District #3
Did not respond
Thomas Ravenell District #3
Did not respond
Ashley Peele District #3
There is a teacher shortage that has to be addressed by creating pipelines to qualified education professionals. Once good talent has been hired, we need to take a look at the comprehensive benefits and incentivization package that is intended to retain them. Outside of additional teachers, we also need to invest in resources and individuals that will support the whole student, like certified counselors, so our teachers can share the work required to provide excellent educational opportunities.
Courtney Waters District #4
In my two years on the board, I have learned that some issues exist at the local level, others must be addressed through advocacy at the state level. We must advocate for caps on class sizes at the state level. On the local level, we need a superintendent who will think creatively about solutions. I would want to hear from building level leaders about what they believe would be helpful then support the superintendent to implement the changes we need.
Kevin D Hollinshead District #4
Some class sizes are too small in some schools and others are others are too large.
Vivian S Pettigrew District #5
There are many views about smaller class sizes. Reducing class sizes improves overall student academic achievement especially for younger students. Teacher and assist's can give more individual assistance.
Melissa Couture Ditrict #5
We need to spend less money on administration and overhead so funds get where they are needed for teachers and classrooms.
Carlotte M. Bailey District #5
Did not respond
Erica Cokley District #6
Did not respond
Eric Thome District #6
Did not respond
Samuel Whatley II District #6
Did not respond
Lee Runyon District #6
CCSD spent $7 million on consultants in 2021-22. Additionally, several million dollars are spent on non-academic staffing at 75 Calhoun Street. As well, quite a bit of funding (both General and Special Revenue) has been directed to expenditures on School Climate Coaches and Social - Emotional Learning Practices. I will propose the following: 1. An immediate moratorium on consultant expenditures; 2. A Student First Funded Budget in which class sizes at elementary are reduced below the 19:1 Student to Teacher Ratio and class sizes at middle and high school are 23:1 Student to Teacher Ratio. 3. A shift of budgeted funds from the areas listed above to pay for additional teaching positions to address these ratio reductions commencing in 2023 - 2024. My position is that the students are the heart of our work, victory is in the classroom and that is where our allocated dollars need to be as well.
Sydney van Bulck District #7
We have to put our money where our mouth is. The undeniable truth is that smaller class sizes cost money. We as a district have to look at the budget and make hard decisions to find where we can cut wasteful spending. It always frustrated me when I would be sent supplies that I already had in my classroom only to be told there were no more funds for what I actually needed. We need to look at staffing across the board. Do we have people in unnecessary positions where those funds could be better utilized in the classrooms? Of course we do. We know that class size is one of the most important pieces to success, so we must find a way to fund these positions. That being said, we are also facing a historical teacher shortage that is quickly becoming a crisis. We can not simply create positions if we can not fill them. Once we begin to treat teachers as professionals as well as pay them as professionals, we will be able to begin this process.
Jennifer Mieras District #7
Funding must be applied to decrease classroom size through hiring more teachers and support staff as well as through facility improvements. Smaller classes are especially for the most vulnerable students and are proven to narrow the opportunity gap and thus lead to higher achievement. When funding cannot alleviate the burden, there are creative ways to help support students in larger classrooms. For example, training and empowering teachers’ aids to provide support to those in the class who need it in small groups.
Joy Brown District #7
The formula for teacher allotment per pupil should be adjusted to allow for smaller class sizes. Teacher retention is another important key to fixing the class size issues in our schools. We need to make sure our experienced educators can help foster the newer teachers. More support will bring more educators into the classroom. More qualified teachers will equal smaller class sizes.
Leah Whatley District #7
Did not respond
Travis Bedson District #8
Did not respond
Helen Davis-Frazier District #8
The infusion of more money with two persons in each class.
Doris Johnson District #8
Reduce students or hire more teachers assistance by rotation.
Hire more staff based on ratio.
Oversized class should have assistance
Darlene Dunmeyer District #8
Improving student achievement will improve the overall rating and perception of schools, creating the opportunity to attract, hire and retain highly qualified teachers. Having more teachers yields the ability to reduce the student-teacher ratio.
Dr. Carol Tempel District #9
Based on educational research, we need to establish class sizes for each grade level and work towards budgeting teachers and resources based on those numbers. The base student cost funding at the state level needs to reflect a commitment to lowering class size.
Forest Bjork District #9
Did not respond
Graham Smith District #9
Did not respond
What is your approach to fix class size issues in many of our schools?
Doyle Costello District #1
Multiple studies have been done that show the importance of small class size not only for academics but for teacher retention and to help stop bullying behaviors in the classrooms. High risk students need to be of the highest importance for our district. Teacher aides are a necessary first step. Class within a class, charter schools, magnet schools- all of these are on the table.
Keith S. Gryboski District #1
I agree that class size is an issue. In our programs, we limit the maximum to 30 students. We know that working with 25 is easier. It is all an equation as to subject matter and resources. I am not on the board, as such I do not have the information they have. I see a $700,000,000 budget and other potential resources. I can not give you a solution until I am fully up to speed on why we have over crowding in some schools. It is a critical issue, one that falls into the need to provide a safe learning environment while the students are in our care.
Elizabeth Moffly District #2
If we aligned our hs credits to higher ed admission requirements we could add an additional teacher to our larger class sizes.
Sarah Shad Johnson District #2
Smaller class size is a priority for me, and to get there is a matter of finances. If we have a school board that understands the huge benefit of smaller class size, or two teachers per classroom, then more spending can be directed that way.
Many of our schools are at or near capacity, so smaller class size may not always work. In those situations, the approach may be to have two teachers per classroom.
Overcrowded schools is a matter I have much experience with, as the former chair of the District 2 Constituent Board. In addition to advocating for smaller class size, I will be working towards better planning for facilities.
Seana J. Flynn District #2
Again, this will require thinking outside of the box and relying on the community. It can often seem to be a dog-and-pony show to transition into or re-enter the teaching profession. We need to support any professional who has interest in teaching and create a variety of pathways to achieve this goal.
Grace Bouldin Cowan District #2
Did not respond
Ed Kelly District #2
Did not respond
EJ Milligan District #2
Did not respond
Chris Collins District #3
I personally prefer smaller class sizes as the the budget allows us to promote.
Pam Mckinney District #3
Did not respond
Thomas Ravenell District #3
Did not respond
Ashley Peele District #3
There is a teacher shortage that has to be addressed by creating pipelines to qualified education professionals. Once good talent has been hired, we need to take a look at the comprehensive benefits and incentivization package that is intended to retain them. Outside of additional teachers, we also need to invest in resources and individuals that will support the whole student, like certified counselors, so our teachers can share the work required to provide excellent educational opportunities.
Courtney Waters District #4
In my two years on the board, I have learned that some issues exist at the local level, others must be addressed through advocacy at the state level. We must advocate for caps on class sizes at the state level. On the local level, we need a superintendent who will think creatively about solutions. I would want to hear from building level leaders about what they believe would be helpful then support the superintendent to implement the changes we need.
Kevin D Hollinshead District #4
Some class sizes are too small in some schools and others are others are too large.
Vivian S Pettigrew District #5
There are many views about smaller class sizes. Reducing class sizes improves overall student academic achievement especially for younger students. Teacher and assist's can give more individual assistance.
Melissa Couture Ditrict #5
We need to spend less money on administration and overhead so funds get where they are needed for teachers and classrooms.
Carlotte M. Bailey District #5
Did not respond
Erica Cokley District #6
Did not respond
Eric Thome District #6
Did not respond
Samuel Whatley II District #6
Did not respond
Lee Runyon District #6
CCSD spent $7 million on consultants in 2021-22. Additionally, several million dollars are spent on non-academic staffing at 75 Calhoun Street. As well, quite a bit of funding (both General and Special Revenue) has been directed to expenditures on School Climate Coaches and Social - Emotional Learning Practices. I will propose the following: 1. An immediate moratorium on consultant expenditures; 2. A Student First Funded Budget in which class sizes at elementary are reduced below the 19:1 Student to Teacher Ratio and class sizes at middle and high school are 23:1 Student to Teacher Ratio. 3. A shift of budgeted funds from the areas listed above to pay for additional teaching positions to address these ratio reductions commencing in 2023 - 2024. My position is that the students are the heart of our work, victory is in the classroom and that is where our allocated dollars need to be as well.
Sydney van Bulck District #7
We have to put our money where our mouth is. The undeniable truth is that smaller class sizes cost money. We as a district have to look at the budget and make hard decisions to find where we can cut wasteful spending. It always frustrated me when I would be sent supplies that I already had in my classroom only to be told there were no more funds for what I actually needed. We need to look at staffing across the board. Do we have people in unnecessary positions where those funds could be better utilized in the classrooms? Of course we do. We know that class size is one of the most important pieces to success, so we must find a way to fund these positions. That being said, we are also facing a historical teacher shortage that is quickly becoming a crisis. We can not simply create positions if we can not fill them. Once we begin to treat teachers as professionals as well as pay them as professionals, we will be able to begin this process.
Jennifer Mieras District #7
Funding must be applied to decrease classroom size through hiring more teachers and support staff as well as through facility improvements. Smaller classes are especially for the most vulnerable students and are proven to narrow the opportunity gap and thus lead to higher achievement. When funding cannot alleviate the burden, there are creative ways to help support students in larger classrooms. For example, training and empowering teachers’ aids to provide support to those in the class who need it in small groups.
Joy Brown District #7
The formula for teacher allotment per pupil should be adjusted to allow for smaller class sizes. Teacher retention is another important key to fixing the class size issues in our schools. We need to make sure our experienced educators can help foster the newer teachers. More support will bring more educators into the classroom. More qualified teachers will equal smaller class sizes.
Leah Whatley District #7
Did not respond
Travis Bedson District #8
Did not respond
Helen Davis-Frazier District #8
The infusion of more money with two persons in each class.
Doris Johnson District #8
Reduce students or hire more teachers assistance by rotation.
Hire more staff based on ratio.
Oversized class should have assistance
Darlene Dunmeyer District #8
Improving student achievement will improve the overall rating and perception of schools, creating the opportunity to attract, hire and retain highly qualified teachers. Having more teachers yields the ability to reduce the student-teacher ratio.
Dr. Carol Tempel District #9
Based on educational research, we need to establish class sizes for each grade level and work towards budgeting teachers and resources based on those numbers. The base student cost funding at the state level needs to reflect a commitment to lowering class size.
Forest Bjork District #9
Did not respond
Graham Smith District #9
Did not respond