Schools

Braintree Teachers Hired with Extra State Money

Class sizes are all under 25 at the elementary level this year in Braintree, according to the most recent projections.

The Braintree Public Schools will hire several teachers that were not included in the budget approved earlier this year thanks to the appropriation of additional Chapter 70 state education money.

Dr. Maureen Murray told the School Committee earlier this week that $180,000 in supplemental state aid can go toward the hiring of a reading and writing teacher for the middle schools, high school English and math and science teachers, and a half-time science teacher at South Middle School.

The committee approved the appropriation 7-0.

Though still in flux until the school year begins, projected enrollment numbers at the elementary level are "holding pretty well," Mayor Joseph Sullivan said, with a few exceptions.

Three Morrison 5th grade sections are at 24 students each, the highest classroom size numbers at the elementary level. In addition, half-day kindergarten sections at Liberty are at 23 and 22.

"That's large for a kindergarten," Pam Kiley said.

Based on the projections, done Aug. 22, Flaherty Elementary would have 22.7 students per class in K-5 in fall 2013, not including special education students.

Highlands: 18.4 students/class

Hollis: 21.1 students/class

Liberty: 20.4 students/class

Morrison: 21.65 students/class

Ross: 17.5 students/class

The numbers can change up until the first day of school and sometimes beyond, with students who have not registered entering classrooms and students who have registered not attending Braintree schools without prior notice.

"They are wonderful numbers for the most part," Dr. Murray said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here