9 San Angelo ISD Classrooms Over State Size Limit

SAN ANGELO, TX — San Angelo ISD trustees approved a compliance plan Thursday night to address elementary classes exceeding the state’s 22-to-1 student-teacher ratio, a step required before the district can submit its class size waiver request to the Texas Education Agency.

Dr. Farrah Gomez, deputy superintendent, reported that of the district’s roughly 299 elementary classrooms, nine in kindergarten through fourth grade currently exceed the state cap.

Some fifth-grade classrooms at Bonham Elementary are also over SAISD’s local 25-to-1 ratio, though state law does not require a waiver for those grades.

Campuses over ratio include kindergarten at Reagan, third grade at Bonham and Fort Concho, and fourth grade at Bradford and Lamar. Fifth-grade classes over the local limit are all at Bonham Elementary.

The plan approved by trustees includes continued efforts to recruit and hire certified teachers, monitoring enrollment trends weekly, and providing stipends to teachers with oversized classes.

Gomez noted the number of classrooms requiring a waiver has declined compared to last year.

San Angelo ISD currently has 12 clinical teachers working in classrooms this fall, Gomez told the board. About half of them have expressed interest in staying with the district, creating a potential pipeline of new certified teachers once they complete their student teaching requirements.

Trustees voted 7-0 in favor of the plan. The waiver will now be submitted to TEA for review.