District 113 Debates Class Size Policy

The Board of Education's role in determining class size was debated at last Monday’s board meeting, after the district's policy committiee recommended a  policy change.

The committee recommended earlier in September that the board of education be responsible for approving or not approving the addition of a section of a class when an existing section contains too many students. This came out of the belief that board approval may be necessary in the event that additional staff may be needed to cover new sections. However, some board members feel the decision to split sections is one best made by school administrators.

'We are not educators'

“Class size is always a difficult issue,” Superintendent George Fornero said at last week's meeting.

He explained that schools are constantly monitoring class size throughout the year and making adjustments as needed. While he said it can be difficult to put a definite number on what defines “too large” a class, due to space constraints and equipment needs, he did say the schools try to keep numbers under 26.

“This year, we had 31 students in year two Spanish class at ,” he said. “When it’s 31, it’s too high. So we split it.”

He said the same thing happened with the Deerfield High School's section of Hebrew 2, which also had 31 students.

“We added another class that same period with a different teacher,” said Fornero. “We continually monitor class size and make adjustments as it goes along.”

Board member Bonnie Shlensky said this example was an indication of why the board should not make the final decision about class sizes.

“The language classes are a perfect instance,” she said. “Waiting for approval wouldn’t have been the right thing. We are not educators. It’s not my decision to make, based on a number.”

The policy committee will present two versions of a new class size policy to the board at their next meeting, Oct. 17. The board will vote on both.

Good fences make good business

In other business, board member Michael Smith reported on the results of a recent Board of Trustees meeting he attended, at which the board voted in favor of an amendment permitting fences around the softball and football fields to display ads for local businesses on them during their respective seasons.

“We hope that will result in some substantial revenue for the district,” said Smith. “A lot of thought has gone into this program. Advertisers will be committed to [specific standards].”

A Highland Park educator was recognized for her work Monday night by the board.

Last spring, the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (IAHPERD) named Physical Education Teacher Victoria Otto the 2011 Illinois Secondary School Educator of the Year.

Otto was selected for the award based on her high professional standards, promotion of physical health and well-being, dedication to teaching and service to the profession, according to the district’s materials about the award. Otto has been with the district for 12 years.

“I’m very flattered that I received this,” said Otto last Monday night. “I do feel even though I am receiving the award, it’s a reflection of our whole department. We work as a team.”

Heather Hernandez, a teacher at HPHS, gave a school report and announced that the Hebrew class at the high school is doing a classroom-to-classroom cultural exchange with a sister school in Israel. The school now has 22 Hebrew language keyboards to use to communicate with their fellow students abroad.

Audris Griffith, Deerfield High School principal, announced the beginning of a new program in which every Wednesday, an all-school conversation about bullying will take place.

“The topic will be addressed every Wednesday with students until the first week of December,” said Griffith.