Hamilton’s Catholic school board projects average kindergarten class size will drop by five students

Hamilton's public and Catholic school boards are reducing class sizes to support both distancing and learning in September.

Again this year we have taken significant amounts of funding ... to lower class size," said Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board (HWCDSB) chair Pat Daly at an Aug. 23 media briefing.

School communities have called for smaller class sizes, a requirement some say is missing from the province's back-to-school plan released earlier this month.

At the Catholic board, class-size averages are projected to be 19.5 for kindergarten, about 20 for Grades 1 to 3 and just over 22.5 for Grades 4 to 8.

This means there would be an average of about five fewer kindergarteners in each HWCDSB classroom than in 2019-20. For Grades 4 to 8, there are expected to be about two fewer students per classroom.

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is projecting class-size averages of 22 to 23 in kindergarten, 19 to 20 in Grades 1 to 3 and 23 to 24 in Grades 4 to 8. In the 2019-20 school year, kindergarten classes had an average of 25 students and Grades 4 to 8 had an average of 24.5.

Projected averages for Grades 1 to 3, which are required to have 23 or fewer students, are comparable to pre-pandemic numbers at both boards.

The HWDSB's aim is to to promote distancing and learning recovery," its website reads.

Smaller class sizes would also mean fewer kids emitting aerosolized particles - from breathing, speaking, coughing and sneezing - that could transmit virus. Improved ventilation at Hamilton schools will help optimize air quality in classrooms, as well.

Boards say they were able to lower class sizes through a combination of provincial COVID-19 funding - used at each board's discretion - as well as funds from reserves.

At the public board, a combined $8 million will allow the board to hire teachers and early-childhood educators for about 75 additional classrooms.

In an email to The Spectator, Daly said the Catholic board approved nearly $3 million in funding - and used some from the province - to shrink class sizes.

Through new hires and redeployment, 42 additional elementary teachers are contributing to the reduced class sizes," he said.

Kate McCullough is a Hamilton-based reporter covering education at The Spectator. Reach her via email: kmccullough@thespec.com