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(middle), and academic classes (high school) would be reduced. The standards proposed <br />by the committee are as follows: <br />Grade <br />Present <br />Proposed <br />Level <br />Class Size <br />Class Size <br />K -2 <br />23 <br />15 <br />3 -5 <br />26 <br />20 <br />6 -8 <br />26 <br />20 <br />9 <br />26 <br />23 <br />10-12 <br />26 <br />25 <br />Although these standards are attractive, they, admittedly, are not ideal according to <br />the literature on class size. The committee believes that these reductions are significant <br />enough to make a major impact on the quality of instruction and that they are realistic. <br />Facility Implications and Strategies for Increasing Effective Capacity <br />As stated previously, one of the roadblocks to making more progress in this area <br />has been a lack of classroom space. The committee conducted a thorough review of our <br />facilities and drew the following conclusions regarding the capacity that would be required <br />to accommodate classes at the proposed sizes: <br />• After Southern Village elementary school opens in 1999, we would need approximately <br />45 additional classrooms to implement the recommended class sizes. Some of the 21 <br />mobile classrooms on our elementary campuses could be used for classrooms, which <br />would reduce this shortfall. <br />• If a fourth middle school opens in 2001, we would still need approximately 15 more <br />middle school classrooms. There are no mobile classrooms at any of our middle <br />schools at the present time. <br />• After the addition to ECHHS is completed, approximately 20 more classrooms would <br />be needed at the high schools, assuming that none of the six mobile classrooms remain <br />at Chapel Hill High School. <br />These facility constraints are considered to be major stumbling blocks. Possible <br />strategies considered by the committee for increasing the effective capacity of our schools <br />include the following: <br />• Establish flexible daily starting and ending times for schools, particularly at the high <br />school level; <br />• Expand the high school summer school program so that students might take fewer <br />courses during the regular school year or graduate early; <br />• Expand the permanent capacity of the existing schools <br />• Continue to use the present mobile classrooms and consider expanded use of mobile <br />classrooms <br />• Reduce the amount of time some high school students attend classes on campus by <br />arranging for them to participate in off - campus courses and/or distance learning. <br />• Increase collaboration with community colleges <br />• Support efforts to establish quality charter schools in our community. <br />There appear to be more options for flexibility at the high school level than at our <br />elementary and middle schools. Although the classroom shortfall is significant at every <br />