In a special July school board meeting needed to approve new faculty hires that couldn’t be accomplished while they were still serving in their previous positions, the Palisades School District also provided an enrollment update that noted continuing maintenance of small class sizes, “with few exceptions.”
Class size has been an active, ongoing concern for outspoken parents for many years, as they observed annual changes in faculty deployment that featured retirements and combined responsibilities, with particular concern for the district’s elementary schools.
They have also expressed deep gratitude for faculty efforts “beyond the call of duty” to help the district minimize expenses needed to maintain programs and services that frequently gain special recognition from various educational authorities.
The district’s tax increase of 1.25 percent for 2024-2025 followed the district’s no-tax increase budget for 2023-2024, which was the fifth since 2011-2012.
In an elementary school enrollment update at the July 15 public meeting, Superintendent Dr. Bridget O’Connell noted K-5 projected class sizes for 2024-2025 as:
•for Durham-Nockamixon, 19 and 20; 22 and 23; 26 and 27; 24 and 24; 22 and 22; and 22 and 22;
•for Springfield, 16 and 17; 24; 15 and 16; 17 and 17; 24 and 24; and 19 and 19;
•for Tinicum, 21; 24; 22; 27; 24; and 19.
In an email after the meeting, she said, “Over the past 20 years, Palisades has experienced declining enrollment. Through our comprehensive planning process, we review student enrollment and facilities use, and through our annual budgeting process, we determine staffing for programs and student needs. Through these adjustments, we have maintained small class sizes, with few exceptions.”
In another email, Director of Community Relations and Development Donna Holmes added, “once again, we are thrilled to host a ‘Pre-K Counts’ program at Durham-Nockamixon to help children transition to our kindergarten program. For these students to have an opportunity to learn and play in a structured school environment is a wonderful support for our students and their families.”
She also noted that the district offers the Palisades Cyber Academy, “for students interested in online courses.”
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