1. THIS PUBLIC HEARING IS TO DISCUSS THE STRATEGIES BEING UTILIZED TO MEET THE CONSTITUTIONAL CLASS SIZE MAXIMUMS

Description
The School Board of Sarasota County is using the following strategies to be in compliance with the constitutional class size amendment: 1) changing teacher assignments using multi grade classes, 2) compensating teachers who elect to teach an additional class in lieu of planning time, and 3) using a portion of the voted referendum to fund teachers beyond the amount provided by the state.

Recommendation
N/A

Attachment: Class_Size_Attachments[1].pdf
Minutes: The Superintendent stated that the district is using a number of strategies to meet the class size cap requirements including the multi grade classes.  We have taken the math part off our middle school team, off the team, to have a little more flexibility in assigning students across those math courses.  At the high school level we are looking at scheduling modifications; looking at those programs that had such low enrollments that we could not maintain those courses.  We have not required the principals to use strategies such as elimination.  Some courses principals feel are very important to our students even if they have low enrollment.  In addition, where it was not feasible to add an additional teacher, but it was very important to maintain the program, we have allowed them to exceed those class size caps and we will accept the penalty.  We will have further discussion in terms of the penalty part of this requirement at the next Board meeting.  We worked very hard to adequately staff our schools so that they can become very close to meeting class size, but because of some very special situations where students; for example, may need to access a certain class at that time of the day at the high school level with that honors class we have agreed, even if it puts us over one or two students, it is important for that student to have that class during that period.  We have made some allowances, but we do not find in the core academic classes that any of our classes are exceedingly high at all.  They are very close to the caps.  In addition for us to make that cap in every single class you basically have to overstaff unless you are willing to eliminate those under enrolled courses or severely restrict students access to certain programs.  The overstaffing would exceed what has been appropriated for this purpose from the state.  The new language states that we can be at the school average with no single class going over three or four students over that hard cap.  It is saying let's stick with that school average which gives principals some flexibility to add another student here where that is a special program for that student to avoid a mixed grade class; perhaps by having one grade level with a few more students in every class.  Those types of flexibility that we had when we had the school average was eliminated once it went to the constitutional language of every class must be at the cap level.

2. PUBLIC HEARING OF CITIZENS

Description

The Board will now hear public comments regarding the strategies to meet Constitutional Class Size Maximums.

Recommendation
N/A


Minutes: No public comments.

3. ADJOURNMENT

Description

N/A

Recommendation
N/A


Minutes: 

The Chair adjourned the Public Hearing Class Size Compliance at 5:13 p.m.

We certify that the foregoing minutes are a true account of the Public Hearing Class Size Compliance held on September 14, 2010, and approved at the regular Board meeting on October 5, 2010.