Lucas Hammerman ’10
News Editor

Staples is always crowded with new freshmen; however, this year 61 new sophomores,  juniors and seniors fill the hallways and cram the classrooms.

“We have larger class sizes,” said Frank Corbo, the math department 6–12 grade coordinator. “Despite the fact that we have had 50 plus students, we were under directive to have the same number of teachers as last year.”

Due to the budget cuts,  there are currently an insufficient amount of teachers in many departments to keep class sizes small. This shortage alters the concept of course levels.

B–level courses were designed to help struggling students. English department 6–12  coordinator Lis Comm said that there has been an increase in the in the number of students enrolling in the B-level courses.

Five years ago, these classes were no more than 15 students, kept small to help struggling students. Currently in the English department, the B–level class size ranges from 18 to 23 students.

Class sizes have also increased for honors classes. According to science department 6–12 coordinator Dr. Harry Rosvally, the original estimates for honors Biology were off by 25 students. Corbo said that in the math department there has been a growth in honors classes as well, up to 28, 29 and 30 students.

“It was my decision to have the larger number of honors students,” Corbo said. “I tried to put the impact [of class sizes] where it would [have a] lesser impact on education.”

Corbo is not happy about having such large class section sizes.

“I would have liked to have hired more teachers so that there could be smaller classes,” he said.

Yet on the second floor of Staples, things are just as crowded in English 3A.

In Jesse Bauks’ period seven English 3A class, there are 28 students.

This is a change for Bauks who has been teaching the class for the past five years. According to Bauks, the number of students in the class has in general been 25 or below. However, this year English 3 class sizes are closer to 30 students.

This large number concerns Bauks.

“With a large group, what I fear is that when we start the research paper it is going to cause conference conflicts.  There are only so many periods in the day to meet with them [the students],” he said.

In an email that Comm sent to Principal John Dodig, she explains this situation in more detail.

“We now have a number of kids who want to change from [Research and Literature,] which is too fast moving for them, to English 3. Some I have said no to. A few dire cases I have said yes,” wrote Comm.

“Part of the problem is they were recommended for English 3, took Res/Lit instead and now they can’t keep up with the work,” she said.

Part of this problem originates from the budget cuts made last year.

“The Board of Education and the Board of Finance should not have directed Superintendent Elliott Landon to make so many cuts,”  Comm said.

In the Staples world language department, the 61 new students have also had an impact.

“Our classes are larger and the staff has had an increase in workload accordingly,” said world language 6-12 coordinator Victoria Mazzarelli. “Due to these larger classes, students are not able to participate as much orally as they could in a smaller class. Their speaking skills are affected.”