U.D. school board OK’s middle school class size

UPPER DARBY» After establishing the prime class size for its elementary level schools, the Upper Darby Board of School Directors have made an official decision of having no more than 27 students per middle school class.

That figure was approved unanimously at the board’s Dec. 5 meeting and will play an integral part of the on-going facilities study being completed by Bonnett Associates, Inc.

At the November committee meetings Assistant Superintendent Dan McGarry notified the board and the public that dealing with middle school enrollment was quickly being an issue in regard to future enrollment. If the district eventually chooses to not lease the two buildings that serve as Charles Kelly and Walter M. Senkow elementary schools, district boundaries would have to be reworked, therefore affecting enrollment figures at the middle schools.

Beverly Hills Middle School has no more room to build onto and Drexel Hill Middle School, which McGarry said was in most need of capital improvements, can have an addition put on it.

Bonnett will be tasked with seeing the feasibility of having class sizes of 27 within the scope of this proposed plan within the current footprint of Beverly Hills and Drexel Hill middle schools. This information is expected to be made public at the start of the new year while the whole of the facilities study has yet to be completed after almost two years.

The board had approved in February the following ultimate class sizes as guidance markers for the facilities study: kindergarten classes at 20; first and second grades at 22; third grade at 25, and fourth and fifth grades at 27.