1997-98 School Budget Reduces Class Size

Class size for third-graders will be reduced under the $155-million budget approved for the 1997-98 school year by trustees of Saddleback Unified School District.

The spending plan includes increases in revenues and reserves from the $146-million budget for the year that just ended. The board will review the document later this summer after the state budget is approved.

The class-size reduction plan continues a program that began last fall to take advantage of a state program that gives additional funding to schools that limit enrollment in primary grades to no more than 20 pupils for each teacher.

The program has received high marks from teachers and parents, though some have raised concerns about cramped space as classrooms have been divided to accommodate smaller groups.

“Teachers, I would say, have universally made this work under less-than-ideal conditions,” Supt. Peter A. Hartman said. “We’ve had to make adjustments.”