Class sizes are likely to increase

GLENDALE — With few unilateral cost saving measures remaining, Glendale Unified School District Board of Education members are poised to increase kindergarten through third-grade class sizes for the 2010-11 school year.

Classes could see an increased ratio of no more than 30-to-1, up from an average of 24 students to every teacher. The measure does not require negotiations with employee groups, and would save the district an estimated $6.5 million every year, officials said.

Larger classes could put 112 teachers out of work, which pencils out to the $6.5 million in annual savings, based on the average teacher salary. The number of layoffs hinges on how many employees sign up for the district’s early retirement plan.

A vote to increase class size is expected before the March 15 deadline to notice employees they could be laid off.

“[This] is going to affect the lives of our teachers, but this is a huge crisis we’re facing,” board Vice President Greg Krikorian said.

Increasing class size would not fully solve the district’s financial insolvency, said Eva Lueck, Glendale Unified chief financial officer. Should school board members increase class size, the district would still have a $5.3-million projected deficit in 2011-12, which could trigger greater regulation and oversight from county and state education officials.

Without class-size reduction and other cost saving measures, district administrators project an $18.5-million deficit for 2011-12. School districts are required by law to provide solvent budgets three years into the future.

“Thinking we’re only going to be at 24 or 25 [students in kindergarten through third grade classes] is really a pipe dream because you can see how much we need to fill those beakers for 2011-12 and 2012-13,” Supt. Michael Escalante said. “We don’t want people to be under the misunderstanding . . . because the probability is significant.”

Board members said they may opt to increase class size up to 27 or 28 students.

The projections do not factor attrition rates for parents who could leave the district for private or parochial school.

“My concern is we might lose some of these families who can afford to do otherwise, and we take a hit on [attendance-based revenue],” board member Christine Walters said.

It is also unknown what classrooms have the capacity to hold 30 students.

“We need a full understanding of what the board would like us to target . . . as we prepare to restructure our staff,” Escalante said.