Class sizes at high school discussed

Class sizes at Red Wing High School were discussed at length Monday after a School Board member raised concerns at the Oct. 1 board meeting.

At Monday’s meeting, the main concern was an advanced placement calculus class with 52 students in it.

Principal Beth Borgen explained that the class used to have two sections that met every other day. For the last two years, however, the teacher opted to combine the sections and have the class meet every day for the first semester.

Director of Teaching and Learning Joe Jezierski also presented board members a list of high school classes that have more than 32 students in them.

Board members raised concerns about other large classes, especially those in the math department. Supt. Karsten Anderson questioned the current practice of assigning a math teacher to advise the SOAR program.

“We have a math teacher working in non-math area, when we have (high class sizes). How can we justify that?” he said.

Board members agreed that that should be looked at, though stressed that they have no problems with the SOAR program itself. SOAR stands for Success, Opportunity, Achievement, Recognition.

“The question is not whether ‘SOAR or not SOAR,’ but how it fits in, and are we utilizing our faculty to its fullest advantage?” Board Chair Mitch Boldt said.

The board discussed the matter but took no action.

Tags: red wing, school board, news, education