Two parents of Kennett students urged the school board to keep class size down. A third parent asked that the district recognize Islamic holidays.

They spoke at the public comment session of the July 11 board meeting at the Mary D. Lang Kindergarten Center.

Parent Holly Burkhart handed the board members copies of a dated psychological study that stated children are increasingly able to learn in bigger classes when they reach fourth grade. She said, however, that because of the upsetting conditions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, most third graders here have not progressed forward normally.

She said that while educational norms permit class size to increase at fourth grade, Kennett should hold back a year or two before enlarging classes at that level.

To the teachers she said, “Ask the kids what stories they have, and keep fourth and fifth grade classes small.”

Jennifer deJonghe, also a parent, directly targeted the plan to decrease the number of fifth grade classes at New Garden Elementary School from five to four. The district will be raising the maximum number of pupils in the class from 20 to 25.

Adding five students to a class would have a significant deleterious effect on learning and teaching, she said. She called the move “alarming” and said, “Five [students added] is not a small number in classrooms. … It’s immoral and unethical.”

Parent Sadaf Farooq, who identified herself as a proud Muslim, said her children have had to miss out on Islamic holidays because there were important tests and lessons at school on those days. “It brings sadness to our homes as a Muslim community when we stand before our children every year, speechless and not able to even justify that KCSD has not yet recognized any Islamic holiday as part of the academic calendar,” she said.

She cited other Chester County school districts, including but not limited to Unionville, West Chester and Coatesville, that recognize Islamic holidays as district holidays.

In other business, Superintendent Dusty Blakey announced that the board had reach a contract agreement with the Kennett Education Association, which represents the school district’s teachers. Both Association President Katie King and Board Finance Committee Chairman Mike Finnegan voiced their appreciation and agreed that sacrifices had been made on both sides.

Details of the contract were not disclosed at the meeting.

Blakey announced that the district would be announcing a new health and safety plan at the next meeting, and it will most likely address issues of communicable diseases.

A team of science teachers from the three elementary schools announced that they have been working to implement expanded STEM programs. Each said the children get excited about science when they have hands-on experience.

Board President Vicki Gehrt announced that there would be no regularly scheduled board meeting in August, but there will be a special meeting to address new hires.

The first day of school for students will be Aug. 29.