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Q&A
Concerns about preserving specialized classrooms while reducing class sizes
1:28:10
·
49 sec
Council Members Rita Joseph and Justin Brannan express concerns about maintaining specialized classrooms for drama, theater, and art while implementing class size reductions. Chancellor Aviles-Ramos acknowledges the issue and assures that steps are being taken to address it.
- Concern raised about potentially losing drama, theater, and art classrooms
- Acknowledgment of the longstanding issue of 'art on a cart'
- Assurance that DOE is working with partners to make necessary adjustments without compromising specialized programs
Rita Joseph
1:28:10
One of the concerns Chair Brennan and I share is we also don't want while we're doing class size to lose our drama room, our theater, and our art classes.
1:28:19
We are hearing from teachers that we don't want arts on wheel, we really want the kids to go in and really experience arts in a classroom.
Melissa Aviles-Ramos
1:28:26
Absolutely.
1:28:27
And again, I think that's why the first step in the process was to really hear directly from schools and art on a cart is an issue that has historically plagued the system for a very, very long time.
1:28:41
We certainly don't want compliance with class size law to add more of that, but the reality is that as first deputy chancellor mentioned, there are issues with some of our buildings, and so we are working very, very closely with superintendents and SEA and all the partners, to make those adjustments separate and apart from the class i's compliance.