As students head back to school, the Warren County School District continues to monitor class sizes.

During a meeting of the district’s Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Committee, it was announced the district is trying to keep kindergarten through second grade classes under 22 students.

Class sizes for third through fifth grades have increased, according to Eric Mineweaser, district director of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, but remin below district thresholds. Meanwhile class sizes continue to fluctuate at the middle and high school levels. Final figures for class sizes are not yet available as registration for classes and scheduling continues.

Mineweaser said there are “a few pockets we’re keeping an eye on,” due to especially high or low class size.

Beaty-Warren Middle School, the district’s highest student population middle school, is getting especially close to the high end of district guidelines.

Superintendent Amy Stewart said she anticipates adding a full-time educator at Beaty utilizing available funds. Stewart noted shifting class sizes and adjustments are normal at the beginning of a school year. She also noted that, moving forward, the district is examining its scheduling model. Stewart said the district is looking at options regarding going to a more “college-type system” to balance out particularly high or low class sizes for some courses.

“We are looking at a different strategy going into next year,” Stewart said. “We’re having a serious conversation about how we schedule and staffing.”

Following questions from the board, administrators said shifting students from Sheffield to Warren is impacting attendance numbers.

In June, the district approved busing Sheffield Area High School students to Warren Area High School during the morning for core science, math and English courses, which are no longer being offered in Sheffield. Students will return to Sheffield in the afternoon for social studies and electives. Core social studies courses are still being offered at Sheffield in the afternoon.

Because they will spend more than 50% of their educational time in Sheffield, students attending Warren in the morning will formally remain students of Sheffield Area High School for purposes of class rank, graduation, athletics and other activities.

Students who attend Warren for more than half of their day are considered students there.

Students also have the option of taking classes through the district’s virtual academy program online and attending the Warren County Career Center. Those that attend the Warren County Career Center will be considered Sheffield students.

According to Stewart, many families are adjusting to the changes while some are still “on the fence” about them.