Reducing Class Size in Bettendorf School District

I taught middle school for several years and now teach at the college level. If class size has mattered to me immensely in those contexts, that is only more true for teachers of younger ages. The numbers that our children's teachers are expected to handle, in the mid-to-upper 20s and beyond, combined with the incredible amount of hours they must spend in non-student-contact tasks, means that their opportunity to transform students lives (not just get them through the next hoop) is profoundly reduced. Prioritizating in our economy is no easy task, but attracting higher-quality teachers with better pay and benefits and offering them more workable class sizes should be very high on our lists.

Smaller classrooms gives more opportunity for teachers to focus on students needs.

Please reduce K-3 class sizes! Acquiring basic skills and a love of learning through active participation in these early grades sets the tone for the next 9 years.

Come on Bettendorf. I dare any of the "suit and ties" that get to make this decision to go into a classroom,at any level, that has 27+ kids. I'd love to see your productivity. Improve test score, oh and actually teach, get to know your students as more than a number on a spreadsheet. I have 5 kids who have gone and go to Bettendorf and I'm a teacher myself. My youngest has the biggest class in 1st grade out of all the other kids. Prioritize and do the right thing.

I feel like this is defiantly something that needs to be changed. There have been numours times my daughter has cam home and showed me her work and the whole thing is wrong. She is in kindergarten. I am worried that there is too many kids in the class room and not enough people helping. I am worried she is going to fall behind because there isn't enough people to help one on one is needed. This is a great petition!

Please reduce class sizes!

Invest in everyone's future....reduce class sizes across the district.

I have 3 children currently in the Bettendorf School district and I believe if we are in good financial shape we should invest in our schools and reduce class sizes to benefit all our children. What can I do to help?

Class size can significantly impact the ability to differentiate and meet every student's needs. When class size is large, it makes it much more difficult to do this. Smaller class sizes would benefit all of our students.

Yes!!

No class is ever too small, but some are certainly too large.

Reducing class sizes would be beneficial at all grade levels, from kindergarten to twelfth grade.

i am for reducing class size.

I was very disappointed in the facility plans as presented by the School Distict over the past two weeks. The District needs to add at a minimum two additional class sections at the elementary level. The District is in a strong financial condition and can easily bond the 1 cent sales tax levy to begin construction this fall. Let me know how I can help! Ray Cassady Former Board Member

The outcome of this decision will be a deciding factor for us in regards to choosing bettendorf or PV schools for our upcoming elementary age child.

We have always believed Bettendorf to be the best schools in the area. No one wants larger class sizes. Unfortunate that we are not offering what our neighbors are.

My daughter has gone to Mark Twain for 3yrs now... Love this school because one on one attention!!

I was shocked to learn that Bettendorf lags behind other districts in this important metric. If we don't rectify this issue, we will have to come to grips with the fact that we are providing our children an education that is inferior to what is available in other local school districts

Smaller classes so kids don't get lost. And can get more help when needed.

Keeping class sizes at a minimum allows for children to receive more one on one interaction when needs arise. We need all of our grade schools as population in Bettendorf continues to increase.