NASHUA — Classroom sizes are beginning to approach 25 and 26 students in some elementary schools within the city, causing concern among several school officials.

The Board of Education was presented this week with projected elementary enrollment numbers, which have not yet been finalized. Nearly 40 elementary classrooms will have 25 or more students, according to the preliminary figures.

“I consider that much too high,” said Kimberly Muise, member of the Board of Education. Muise was especially worried about two kindergarten classrooms at Mount Pleasant Elementary that will have 25 students each.

In the third grade, there are four classes at Bicentennial that will have 25 students, and there are two classes at Broad Street that will have 26 students. In the fourth grade, there are 15 classrooms throughout five schools — Amherst, Bicentennial, Ledge Street, Main Dunstable and Sunset Heights — that will have between 25 and 26 students.

And, in the fifth grade, there are 16 classrooms throughout five schools — Charlotte Avenue, Dr. Crisp, Fairgrounds, Ledge Street and Sunset Heights — that will also have 25 or 26 students.

Muise called those numbers “ridiculous,” suggesting that at least one more elementary teacher be hired for the fall.

Her fellow board member, Thomas Vaughan, agreed. As class sizes continue to creep upward, Vaughan said that should be a major concern for the district that would be better addressed now rather than later.

Assistant superintendent Althea Sheaff cautioned the board about the first-grade class at Amherst Street Elementary, which is expected to have three classrooms with an average of nearly 24 students each.

If a teacher were to be added, Sheaff suggested that the district prioritize its needs to provide some relief for the three first-grade classrooms at Amherst Street, especially since there are five intensive needs, or emotionally handicapped students, that will be integrated into those classrooms frequently.

“This chart is one shot in time, and one look at enrollment,” stressed Sheaff, explaining the numbers were tallied on Aug. 9 based on current registrations, but could change by Oct. 1.

The board voted 6-2 to hire one additional elementary school teacher for the fall, but it did not determine how to fund the position or where the new teacher would be assigned.

Robert Hallowell, board president, was opposed to the additional hiring, saying he struggled with the district's allocation of resources.

“It is not substantially different from what it was last year,” Hallowell said of the class sizes. While one extra teacher may be helpful, Hallowell said it probably wouldn't make that much of a relief on class size.

In addition, Hallowell said hiring a new teacher has recurring costs, but using that money to instead assist with math or science curriculum may be a more beneficial, one-time purchase.

Superintendent Mark Conrad echoed those statements, saying it may be best to hold off on hiring another teacher.

“We are looking at a really bleak financial future,” said Conrad, explaining the district could potentially lose $5 million in state aid in the coming year. What keeps him up at night, said Conrad, is the ability to hire an extra teacher but then be forced to lay that person off in just a year. Muise maintained that the board could decide to make cuts in other areas during the next budget season, and not layoff teachers.

“This is a moving target … we are taking a look at this very carefully,” Conrad said, explaining enrollment numbers at the high schools are beginning to decline, but elementary enrollment numbers are fairly stable with 984 students in first grade and 940 students in fifth grade.

Another board member, Sandra Ziehm, questioned whether it would be appropriate to hire three paraprofessionals to assist in three classrooms rather than hire one teacher. Sheaff maintained that research does not show paraprofessionals add to student achievement in this manner.

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Kimberly Houghton may be reached at khoughton@newstote.com.