Class sizes at Arlington Public Schools could grow slightly next year to accommodate an influx of more than 800 new students in 2013.
The district’s 2013 budget proposal would increase classes across the board by one student.
Arlington Superintendent Patrick Murphy called the decision to increase class sizes a difficult one, but said the district has to “think forward, think proactively” when faced with growing student populations.
By next year, 55 percent of the district’s schools will be at or over capacity, he noted. So increasing class sizes, the district won’t have to rely as much on modular classrooms, saving the district about $4.3 million.
The district will likely hire 69 teachers to accommodate the influx of 857 new students, Murphy said.
“We are not making any cuts, folks are not losing their jobs,” he said.
This isn’t the first time the school district has increased class sizes in recent years. In fiscal 2011, class sizes increased by one in kindergarten through third grades and in sixth through 12th grades. On average, Murphy said, Arlington still has some of the smallest class sizes in the region.
The school board’s $493.8 million budget for 2013 marks a 3.9 percent increase over this year’s budget. Arlington Public Schools will hold a series of public meetings and work sessions over the next several months before deciding on a final budget by April 26.
Despite the projected budget increases, the school district says it still lacks funding for things like textbooks. Also, employees will receive a 2 percent across-the-board increase, which wasn’t included in last year’s budget, although they won’t receive the annual salary increases outlined in their contracts, which would have cost the district more.
