ARTICLE 8 CLASS SIZE

Glocester School Department

A. Except in case of demonstrable emergency caused by unforeseen enrollment increases, or lack of classroom facilities the Glocester School Committee's intent is to adhere to class pupil maximums as follow:

Grades K-1 20 students

Grades 2-3 23 students

Grades 4-5 25 students

In the event of an overage, the Superintendent will make a recommendation to the School Committee regarding appropriate remedy. If the Teachers' Association does not agree with the remedy, it may be grieved to the School Committee in accordance with D below. Classes containing a concentration of educationally disadvantaged students will be kept at a minimum as determined by the Principal in consultation with the professional staff.

B. The composition and size of special education classes shall be in accordance with state law.

C. The foregoing provisions are subject to modification for educational purposes such as large/small group instruction, team teaching, specialized or experimental instruction.

D. The Association agrees that grievances filed on class size exceeding the contractual maximum in Article 8 by one (1), shall not be pursued beyond Level Four (School Committee) of the grievance procedure. Grievances involving class sizes over the above-indicated maxima may, at the option of the Association, be taken to arbitration. The Committee agrees that split grade classes are generally undesirable, but, occasionally dictated by otherwise unavoidable circumstances. In any case, no class plan shall be developed using split-grade classes for the purpose of effecting a reduction in staff.