There are 49 students in two sections in the fourth grade at Salem Drive School, at or close to the maximum class size of 25 recommended by the Hanover Township Board of Education. Class size guidelines were developed years ago, before we added Character Education and a more demanding Common Core curriculum. Our children have been together in classes ranging from 20 students in kindergarten to 22 per class in Grades 1, 2, and 3. They have one more year to prepare for the more demanding middle school curriculum.

We, the parents of current 4th Grade students, respectfully request that the Board of Education staff three fulltime teachers for the 5th Grade for 2014-15 so that our children will get more attention and have fewer distractions in their 5th Grade classrooms.