Quarter of schools miss class-size cap
Hillsborough has a month to add or shuffle teachers to meet the voter-approved mandate.
By LETITIA STEIN
Published September 24, 2006
TAMPA - One-fourth of Hillsborough schools aren't meeting tougher class-size limits now in place across Florida.
Hillsborough has a month to get all of its schools in compliance with class-size caps that became more restrictive this year. A preliminary state report shows that more than 50 schools are having problems.
"When I first saw them, I said, "Wait a minute, I'm going to have apoplexy,' " said deputy superintendent Ken Otero. "There's a lot more schools on there than what I would want to be."
On closer inspection, he found several schools where he knew additional teachers would soon be hired, lowering class sizes.
Administrators say they will add teachers where needed. Internal shuffling within schools may also be necessary.
And administrators note that the preliminary information appears to include a number of errors. Correct information should reduce the number of schools on the problem list.
"We're going to make it," Otero said.
Hillsborough and other school districts don't have a choice. They have to reduce class sizes to the levels required by voters in a constitutional amendment.
Beginning this year, the limits apply on a schoolwide basis. Schools can average no more than 18 students in grades pre-kindergarten to third; 22 in grades 4-8 and 25 in high school.
In two years, the requirements kick in for individual classrooms.
In the initial report, the schools with the largest average classes were Sessums and MacFarlane Park elementary schools 23; Orange Grove Middle Magnet (26); Sickles and Bloomingdale high schools (27).
At MacFarlane Park, principal Denyse Riveiro said the district is looking at adding teachers. She already has received an additional instructor in third grade.
"That helped, but not enough," said Riveiro, whose school features a magnet program so popular that parents call daily trying to get in. "The children are not suffering, and the parents have not said anything at all."
Hillsborough's watch list includes several schools just making the benchmark. Robles Elementary, for example, averaged exactly 18 students per classroom. One new family could throw it off.
"A kid or two could make the difference," said Jack Davis, the district's chief information and technology officer.
Ultimately, schools could face consequences if classes remain too large. The state can penalize districts by forcing them to transfer money from operating budgets to build additional classrooms.
Schools won't be officially judged until a formal count in October.
Letitia Stein can be reached at lstein@sptimes.com or 226-3400.