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Just to clarify, Warwick does have caps on classroom size but they are ONLY based on the union contact and they can/are continuously worked around by the additional contract requirement that the teachers with class sizes over the contractual limit are given additional $. Both of my children are in classes over the contractual limit, which may or may not be optimal but the fact that some classes are nearly half the size and the same type, evokes the logical question of whether resources are being significantly wasted in these small classes or my children are being delivered an inferior education. While I am grateful that the union provides some limits on class size, most districts (and many states) have policies and procedures in place regarding "Optimal"class size. They do not rely on union contracts, but proactively define and continually assess what is best for the education of students of all ages and have procedures that ensure the balancing of class size across the district. Optimal class size policies are based on research and values of the district, allow for the responsible allocation of resources as well as the educational benefit of students. Optimal class size is based on and differs by grade level (unlike the union contract) and type of class. Warwick does not have any such policy and it is another example of the type of information that should be analyzed and factored into any long term facilities plan. While I agree that consolidation needs to take place and am glad that this round of planning was an improvement over the last (thanks to the parents on the committee and the majority of the school committee recognizing the issues with the first plan) the current plan still falls well below the national standard for long term facility planning. Many components that should be addressed in this plan have been deferred until implementation and as any facility planning professional knows, the details reveal and many times change the overall direction of the plan. Do we need to start somewhere? Yes, but the school committee could easily approve this preliminary decision, give the committee the green light to begin the phasing/implementation planning, and require approval of the full plan before starting down a road that has not been fully defined and may very well be adjusted as detailed plans for all day kindergarten, grade level configuration for all schools, assessment of the condition and capacity of our elementary schools, detailed capital improvement planning for the entire system, optimal class size by grade/subject level, etc. are incorporated.

From: On a roll to save Vets High

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