Student classroom size limits have been exceeded at three elementary campuses in San Marcos CISD. The board of trustees approved a waiver to request five classroom size waivers for the 2024-25 school year.

A closer look

According to board policy, class size cannot exceed more than 22 students per teacher in a kindergarten, first, second, third and fourth grade class. The following elementary classes have exceeded the number of students enrolled:

• Bowie: Grade 1
• Hernandez: Grade 2 and two Grade 3 classrooms
• Rodriguez: Grade 3

“I feel like we haven’t had any waivers [for large class sizes] for a while, which is great,” board President Anne Halsey said. “I also understand that we are, like most districts in Texas, really strapped financially, so it’s difficult to add in [more teachers], which would significantly decrease the class sizes, which would be more optimal, but not possible. So I understand these necessary constraints.”

The motion to approve the classroom size waivers passed unanimously. Parents of the students in the affected classrooms will be notified, according to agenda documents.

Another note

Trustees also voted to approve a waiver that excused Sept. 25 from average daily attendance funding calculations used to determine how much state funding public schools receive from the Foundation School Program due to low attendance at San Marcos High School.

Following a false school threat made Sept. 24, SMHS had an attendance rate of 75% on Sept. 25, according to board documents.

Per board documents, districts can request a waiver to excuse any instructional delays caused by inclement weather, or health- or safety-related issues that cause attendance to drop at least 10% below the last school year’s overall average attendance.