Published in the September 15, 2016 edition
By DAN TOMASELLO
NORTH READING — The total number of students in North Reading Public Schools in the first week of classes has decreased slightly, Superintendent of Schools Jon Bernard told the School Committee on Monday.
Bernard said the town’s five schools opened smoothly on Sept. 7 as the 2016–2017 school year got underway for students in grades 1–12. The first day for preschoolers and kindergarteners was Sept. 9.
“We have had a very good start to the 2016–2017 school year,” said Bernard.
While Bernard said there were no negative issues to report, he said there were “some glitches with busing.” He said the school department’s new bus company, North Reading Transportation, was “very responsive” and “made some changes” to the bus routes that went into effect on Monday.
“We had some slight delays in the morning and afternoon the first couple of days, but there was nothing negative on Friday and there was nothing (on Monday),” said Bernard.
Bernard said traffic at the secondary schools was “uneventful.” Bernard said he and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Patrick Daly visited all five schools on Sept. 8.
“There is good, positive energy in the schools,” said Bernard.
Bernard thanked Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Wayne Hardacker and his staff for making sure the schools were ready for students and teachers’ return last week.
“All five schools look really, really nice,” said Bernard.
According to preliminary enrollment figures released by the school department, there are 2,494 students hitting the books this year, representing a decline of 38 students.
The data revealed there are currently 1,109 students enrolled in the town’s three elementary schools. There are 52 preschoolers, 159 kindergarteners, 185 first graders, 175 second graders, 199 third graders, 178 fourth graders and 161 fifth graders.
The Batchelder School has the highest enrollment of the three elementary schools with 446 students. According to the school department, there are 64 kindergarteners enrolled at the Batch while there are 79 first graders, 67 second graders, 80 third graders, 89 fourth graders and 67 fifth graders.
The Hood School has the second highest enrollment with 341 students. According to the school department, there are two preschoolers and 56 kindergarteners at the Hood School. Additionally, there are 55 first graders enrolled, 62 second graders, 67 third graders, 54 fourth graders and 45 fifth graders.
The Little School has the fewest students of the town’s five schools with 322 students enrolled this year. According to the data released by the school department, there are 50 preschoolers and 39 kindergarteners enrolled at the Little School. There are 51 first graders enrolled, 46 second graders, 52 third graders, 35 fourth graders and 49 fifth graders.
Bernard said there are 576 students enrolled at North Reading Middle School this year. According to the school department, the middle school has 191 sixth graders, 184 seventh graders and 201 eighth graders enrolled this year.
North Reading High School has 809 students enrolled this year. According to the school department, there are 207 freshmen, 191 sophomores, 223 juniors and 188 seniors at the high school.
Bernard said about 4 percent of last year’s eighth graders opted to attend private high schools instead of NRHS, totaling nine students.
“That 4 percent is the lowest since I have been here,” said Bernard.
School Committee member Mel Webster asked Bernard if there are any class size issues at the schools.
Bernard said, “there are some large classes” at the high school, which school officials previously anticipated.
School Committee member Julie Koepke asked Bernard to provide the school board with information about the large classes at the high school.
Webster said the high school’s large classes are going to be an issue for the next few school years.
“With the small attrition numbers from eighth to ninth grade, I think we are going to be facing this for the next two or three years,” said Webster. “We have 201 eighth graders this year and if we lose eight students, we have got a total of 193 kids coming in and the class going out has 188. I know it’s going to be a tough budget year, but we have to address it as much as we can this year.”
Webster noted the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) required the high school to be built for only 740 students.
“We have plenty of room here, but we probably won’t get to that number until 2020,” said Webster.
Despite the high school’s large class sizes, School Committee Vice Chairman Jerry Venezia said, “space is not an issue because we have plenty of space.”
Bernard said he expects there might be “some slight fluctuations” between the preliminary enrollment figures and the October 1 deadline to submit the school system’s enrollment to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
“If anything, my guess would be that we would be adding students,” said Bernard.
