By LESTER CHANG
The Cupertino Union School District will seek state funds to reduce the size of first-grade classes in order to enhance student performance.
Schools got the green light to do so after trustees passed a resolution Oct. 2 authorizing the district to implement the program during the current school year.
The proposal was approved on a 4-0 vote.
CUSD has three elementary schools in Sunnyvale: Stocklmeir, West Valley and Nimitz.
Barry Chang attended the meeting and inquired about the proposal, but didn't vote.
Chang, a real estate agent, had to leave early for an out-of-state business trip.
The district selected first-grade classes because those students are put through comprehensive reading programs and would benefit the most from smaller classes, district officials said at the meeting, which was attended by more than 70 parents.
The class reduction program will affect 1,669 first-grade students.
The action came in the wake of criticism by some parents that the district hadn't moved quickly enough in formulating plans for the program and applying for the state funds.
They said a few school districts in Santa Clara County had already developed plans and were in the process of hiring teachers at a time when there is an acute shortage of teachers.
The Sunnyvale Elementary and Santa Clara Unified school districts have already implemented their class-size reduction programs.
Superintendent Pat Lamson said the administration was slated to present a plan to the board Oct. 8, but submitted it to the board six days early. The board was scheduled to take a vote on her recommendation on Oct. 22.
District public information officer Beverly Armstrong said the district was moving cautiously, not hastily, in the face of parent complaints.
"Yes, we are ahead of schedule. We want to move as quickly as possible, but move deliberately and responsibly," she said.
To be eligible for the funding, the district must apply for funds by Nov. 1.
Lamson said the legislation didn't provide enough money to carry out the program and that the district would have to use some of its own.
She said planning was needed and that she wanted to move carefully and responsibly in implementing the program.
"I am glad we are moving at this careful pace," said Lew Green, president of the Cupertino Education Association, which represents some 400 teachers. "Some districts, I believe, are moving ahead without a well-thought-out plan. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them do go bankrupt."
The $711 million fund for the class reduction program was made available under legislation signed by Gov. Pete Wilson in July.
Under the legislation, school districts can apply for funding to reach a 20-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Cupertino currently has a 30-to-1 ratio, while teacher-student ratios in other districts vary.
Trustees and district officials welcomed the program but stressed it should not be operated or expanded at the expense of children in higher grades who are not now involved in the plan.
Under the plan outlined by Lamson's administration, the district will apply for $650 for each student in a full-day program and anticipates about $1.1 million in state funding for the program.
The amount of funds the district will use to support the state funds won't be known until the program gets underway at the schools.
The district also is engaged in an aggressive hiring program to secure teachers for the program and to replace up to 60 teachers who are eligible to retire this year, Lamson said.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, October 9, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.