BEVERLY — Elementary school class sizes in Beverly would be significantly higher than in surrounding communities under the consolidation plan proposed by Superintendent James Hayes.
The average class size in Beverly's four reconfigured elementary schools would be 26.6 students, more than the current average class sizes in Danvers (20.8), Peabody (20.5) and Salem (18.6), according to numbers provided by the superintendents' offices in those communities.
Those figures include only grades one through five. Kindergartners would attend a separate early education school under Hayes' consolidation plan.
Hayes says the larger class sizes aren't ideal, but they are the only way to close a $2.5 million budget gap other than eliminating elementary school art, music, gym and library, as well as all sports.
"I certainly wish we could go back to the maximums we once lived under to ease the challenges of the classroom, but the financial resources available to us will not allow that to happen in the foreseeable future," he wrote in comments posted on the school district's Web site.
The large class sizes in Beverly would be prohibited by the teachers' contracts in some communities. The contracts in Salem and Peabody, for example, say the average elementary school class size cannot exceed 25.
Beverly's teachers' contract does not place specific restrictions on class size. The president of the Beverly Teachers Association, Virginia Colton, said she could not comment because negotiations are underway on a new contract.
Hayes has proposed closing Cove and McKeown schools and moving students into the city's four other elementary schools. Cove would be converted to an early childhood center for preschool and kindergarten, while McKeown would be an alternative secondary school for special education students.
Under that plan, 23 of the 35 classes in grades three to five would have the maximum 30 students as set by the School Committee. Eight classes in grades one and two would have the maximum 25 students.
Councilor-at-large Bill Coughlin said at Monday's meeting on the school budget crisis that the larger class sizes are the No. 1 problem with the consolidation plan.
"That's the main crisis, and you've got to solve that, whatever way you do that," he told Hayes and School Committee members.
In a presentation outlining his consolidation plan on March 26, Hayes cited a study saying that parent support and the quality of the teacher far outweighed class size in influencing a student's success.
He said class size is important, but they would have to be as low as 12 to 15 to produce "measurable improvements in achievement."
"I think we all agree that that level of class enrollment is not within our reach," he wrote on the schools' Web site.
Beverly is not the only community facing the prospect of larger class sizes due to budget problems. Salem is considering larger class sizes to close a budget gap.
Ipswich Superintendent Rick Korb said his elementary school class sizes could go as high as 30 if a proposed Proposition 21/2 property tax override fails.
Ipswich now has between 20 and 23 students per class in its two elementary schools, he said.
"It's nice what we have now, but those class sizes are at risk," Korb said.
Korb said he is a strong supporter of smaller class sizes, especially in the elementary schools.
"Research is compelling that class sizes absolutely affect the quality of instruction, particularly when dealing with the variety of issues that kids bring to the plate these days," he said.
Beverly is also facing an override election, scheduled for June 3. But supporters have acknowledged that cuts will have to be made even if the $2.5 million override passes.
Elementary (grades one to five) Avg. class size
Beverly 26.6 *
Beverly 22.6 **
Danvers 20.8 ***
Peabody 20.5
Salem 18.6
* projected for next year under school consolidation plan
** current class sizes
*** does not include multi-age kindergarten/grade one classrooms
Source: Superintendents' offices
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