District to Reduce First-Grade Classes

First-grade classes will be reduced to 20 students at all eight Fountain Valley School District elementary schools by Sept. 30, officials decided this week.

Before an audience of more than 50 teachers and parents, district trustees Thursday night unanimously approved creating smaller first-grade classes. They also voted to reduce second-grade class sizes as soon as possible, but no date was set.

Supt. Marc Ecker said district officials will “move as quickly as we can” to implement smaller classes in both first and second grades.

Ecker added that the plan to reduce first-grade classes won’t be in place by Sept. 4, the first day of school.

District staff had recommended adopting only a first-grade class-size reduction plan at this time, because including second grade would require additional hiring, facilities and other costs.

But Trustee Robert J. Sedlak said, “I believe the benefits to second grade outweigh the negative.”

Teachers also voiced their support for smaller classes. Last year, classes averaged 30 students.

“I think this is the most exciting thing to happen in the state of California. I never thought I would see it,” said fifth-grade teacher Leigh Severson. “You have the opportunity to do something for the district. . . . I welcome it.”

The district will need to hire 25 to 30 classroom teachers. Officials will begin interviewing candidates Monday.

Two to six additional classrooms will be needed at each school, Ecker said.

The state is allocating to the district $650 a student if they implement smaller classes by February, but that is not enough to cover the cost.

Ecker said that the district must spend about $300,000 of its own money to carry out the class-size reduction plan in first and second grades.

The district will also be seeking comments from parents. Another meeting will be held on Aug. 29 to review the plan.