Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Petition: I urge the Board of Trustees of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District to ensure that all TK-3rd grade classes will be capped at 25 students in order to ensure a quality education for all students.
Support Our Students, Community, and Educators "Research shows that students in the early grades perform better in small classes. This is especially the case for students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds" (click link). To ensure small classes for our students, Belmont-Redwood Shores voters even passed the 2014 Measure I Bond which states that "...the Board of Trustees determines that the District must: (iv) prevent classroom overcrowding and increased class size to ensure the high quality of education at all of our schools" (click link).
Background: Since the recession, class sizes for the youngest students in Belmont-Redwood Shores have been capped at 25. This year, the school district has put 26 students in all TK classes and two first grade classes and would like to be able to raise class sizes to 27. However, the teachers have a contract with the district calling for a maximum 25:1 in TK-3 with a goal of 20:1. We want class size in TK-3 to be capped at 25. Why is this happening? The district is trying to cut costs. In order to do that, the district has interpreted the teachers’ contract to only guarantee an average of 25:1 at each elementary site in TK-3rd grade. Unfortunately, averaging allows some classes to be overcrowded. What are teachers doing? Each teacher with 26 students has filed a grievance, which the district has denied. BRSFA has attempted to negotiate a compromise with the district, but teachers are not willing to have 27 students in TK-3 classes. It’s just too many students. With the support of the California Teachers Association, BRSFA has filed an unfair labor practice with the Public Employee Relations Board against the district.
How can you help? Stand up with the teachers to fight increased class size by signing and sharing this petition on social media, "liking" us at www.facebook.com/brsfa, and emailing your concerns to the School Board here. Additionally, tell your child’s teacher if you can attend, speak, and/or bring your TK-1 child to the next school board meeting on March 23 at 6:15pm (2960 Hallmark Drive, Belmont, CA 94002). Please visit brsfa.org or email [email protected] for more information.
More like this
A Petition to Reduce Class Size at the Second and Third Grade Level at Whiting…
Early elementary class size in Moraga
Updates
March 7, 2017
The petition reached 100 signatures today. I am drafting a formal letter to the Board of Trustees to request a meeting regarding current class size enrollment numbers.
Reached 100 supporters
March 6, 2017
103 Comments
I pay more than $17,000 in taxes. I voted Yes to all the measure in 2014 to raise 48 million to keep the class size less than 25. I am irate that I have to now sign a petition to stop this from happening!!!
Please do not raise the number of students in the class! My daughter has 26 kids in her TK class and it's a lot to handle! Young children in particular need more attention from their teachers - smaller class sizes will benefit the children and lower the stress on the teachers.
I volunteer regularly in my child's Kindergarten class at Fox Elementary, and I think 25-1 is already stretching the limits for a good learning environment. I don't want to see class size increase.
As a teacher myself I know 20+ in the classroom poses many problems. Larger class sizes mean less time per student, and this is how students fall through the cracks. Minimizing class sizes will help minimize the achievement Gap.
On top of the language in the petition, voters approved a Bond measure in Nov, 2014 to support expansion for our growing district. This was all based on 25:1 caps in TK-3. Language exists to support this. Let's hope fraud charges aren't filed too. Do the the right thing BRSSD! Honor 25:1 caps.
That children and teachers have a reasonable class size allows for the most important thing at school of all - to love learning. School class size means more individual attention, better learning, group work and happier teachers. It just makes sense to keep numbers as low as possible.
Preserve class sizes to 25:1 for K-3
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
Petition: I urge the Board of Trustees of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District to ensure that all TK-3rd grade classes will be capped at 25 students in order to ensure a quality education for all students.
Support Our Students, Community, and Educators "Research shows that students in the early grades perform better in small classes. This is especially the case for students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds" (click link). To ensure small classes for our students, Belmont-Redwood Shores voters even passed the 2014 Measure I Bond which states that "...the Board of Trustees determines that the District must: (iv) prevent classroom overcrowding and increased class size to ensure the high quality of education at all of our schools" (click link).
Background: Since the recession, class sizes for the youngest students in Belmont-Redwood Shores have been capped at 25. This year, the school district has put 26 students in all TK classes and two first grade classes and would like to be able to raise class sizes to 27. However, the teachers have a contract with the district calling for a maximum 25:1 in TK-3 with a goal of 20:1. We want class size in TK-3 to be capped at 25. Why is this happening? The district is trying to cut costs. In order to do that, the district has interpreted the teachers’ contract to only guarantee an average of 25:1 at each elementary site in TK-3rd grade. Unfortunately, averaging allows some classes to be overcrowded. What are teachers doing? Each teacher with 26 students has filed a grievance, which the district has denied. BRSFA has attempted to negotiate a compromise with the district, but teachers are not willing to have 27 students in TK-3 classes. It’s just too many students. With the support of the California Teachers Association, BRSFA has filed an unfair labor practice with the Public Employee Relations Board against the district.
How can you help? Stand up with the teachers to fight increased class size by signing and sharing this petition on social media, "liking" us at www.facebook.com/brsfa, and emailing your concerns to the School Board here. Additionally, tell your child’s teacher if you can attend, speak, and/or bring your TK-1 child to the next school board meeting on March 23 at 6:15pm (2960 Hallmark Drive, Belmont, CA 94002). Please visit brsfa.org or email [email protected] for more information.
Updates
March 7, 2017
The petition reached 100 signatures today. I am drafting a formal letter to the Board of Trustees to request a meeting regarding current class size enrollment numbers.
Reached 100 supporters
March 6, 2017
103 Comments
I understand the demands on our school district created by the changing demographics, but guaranteed max of 25 is an essential part of what makes our schools in Belmont great. Recent bond measure I and School Force donations are intended to uphold the 25 max class size.
I pay more than $17,000 in taxes. I voted Yes to all the measure in 2014 to raise 48 million to keep the class size less than 25. I am irate that I have to now sign a petition to stop this from happening!!!
Please do not raise the number of students in the class! My daughter has 26 kids in her TK class and it's a lot to handle! Young children in particular need more attention from their teachers - smaller class sizes will benefit the children and lower the stress on the teachers.
I volunteer regularly in my child's Kindergarten class at Fox Elementary, and I think 25-1 is already stretching the limits for a good learning environment. I don't want to see class size increase.
As a teacher myself I know 20+ in the classroom poses many problems. Larger class sizes mean less time per student, and this is how students fall through the cracks. Minimizing class sizes will help minimize the achievement Gap.
On top of the language in the petition, voters approved a Bond measure in Nov, 2014 to support expansion for our growing district. This was all based on 25:1 caps in TK-3. Language exists to support this. Let's hope fraud charges aren't filed too. Do the the right thing BRSSD! Honor 25:1 caps.
That children and teachers have a reasonable class size allows for the most important thing at school of all - to love learning. School class size means more individual attention, better learning, group work and happier teachers. It just makes sense to keep numbers as low as possible.
Preserve class sizes to 25:1 for K-3
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
I understand the demands on our school district created by the changing demographics, but guaranteed max of 25 is an essential part of what makes our schools in Belmont great. Recent bond measure I and School Force donations are intended to uphold the 25 max class size.