Dear CLS 4th Grade Families,
We are writing to follow up on the issue of losing the bubble class (the 5th class) for our 4th grade this year. This was a topic of great concern last spring when the Board of Education cut one of our classes in their first round of budget cuts. An effort was made by us, now 4th grade families, to persuade the BOE to not make this cut. In the end, the BOE did not decide in our favor.
This year there are 96 students in the 4th grade with an average class size of 24 students. While K - 3rd Grades have an average class size of 20 pupils per class. At the November 23rd BOE meeting this issue was raised. What came to light is that since the BOE has not heard from families or teachers, they are under the assumption that everything is "OK". After speaking with many families, as well as the 4th grade teachers, we believe that everything is not "O"K and that the bubble class (5th section/class) should be reinstated next year. The BOE needs to hear from us!
What can you do?
- Email us your concerns
- Sign this petition, it will be presented to the BOE.
- Tell other 4th Grade Families about this petition.
- Ask your 4th Grade Teachers to sign and to come to the meeting,
- Come to the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, January 11th at 7:30. If you don%u2019t feel comfortable speaking, that%u2019s ok, numbers are important! Note that it is important to arrive right at 7:30 as that's the designated for public comment.
The budget process for next year has already begun and we need to make our voices heard now.
We hope to hear from you and to see you on January 11th!
Elizabeth Spinzia els@ping23.com
Kelly Toussaint kmtouhey@gmail.com
Metta Callahan maretta.callahan@pearson.com
We, the undersigned, are asking the RCS Board of Education to reinstate the 5th class (the bubble class) for the present 4th grade students when they are in 5th grade (2011-2012).
This year there are 96 students in the 4th grade with an average class size of 24 students. With Grades K-3 having an average class size of 20 students, we believe that our 4th graders are unfairly under served. As you know, this particular grade has the largest number of elementary students needing special services and individualized attention. We believe the teachers can not offer the quality classroom teaching that both CLS teachers and families have come to expect.
We encourage you to speak with and listen to the 4th grade teachers and Mr. King, as well as to the 5th grade teachers who will inherit these over-sized classes. We believe that the decision to remove the bubble class this year was not a good decision and we are asking that the Board of Education and administrators re-instate this 5th section.
We understand that the challenges facing the RCSD budget are great. We feel confident that the BOE can understand what is at stake, take a leadership role and put the quality of our children's education first.
