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# Size matters: District studies ways to stay small
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/size-matters-district-studies-ways-to-stay-small/
- Published: 2006-01-05T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:01:38.000Z
- Author: Ryan Hyatt
- Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import

*Schools taking first peek at limiting classroom sizes*

MALIBU — Efforts to ensure that classroom sizes at local schools remain as small as they can be will be explored for the first time by elected leaders on Thursday, with many wondering what they will find in their discussion.

Board of education members for the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District — which will meet at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday at Malibu City Hall — said they are looking forward to reviewing a report which will begin to analyze class sizes among local schools.

The request for the information, made by SMMUSD governing board member Shane McLoud, is intended to be a first look at what can be done to guarantee students are receiving as much one-on-one instruction with teachers as needed.

“I’ve been on the board for three years and one of my concerns are class sizes for 4th grade and on,” McLoud said. “I’m concerned about the challenges facing teachers and lower-performing students in larger classrooms.”

> “I’m concerned about the challenges facing teachers and lower-performing students in larger classrooms.” — SHANE MCLOUD SMMUSD, Governing board member

McLoud said he was hesitant to comment further on the issue until he had an opportunity to hear the report and discuss it with his colleagues.

The report is expected to cover what research shows about students’ performances in classrooms with varying sizes. The report will also examine the average class sizes for elementary school and middle school English, math, science and social studies courses.

Board members will likely have the opportunity to compare how performance varies in classes with fewer than 25 students to those that exceed 35 students. They will also look at the process by which full-time teachers are assigned to a school.

Board member Oscar de la Torre is looking forward to the discussion.

“All the studies I’ve read show that reducing classroom size tends to increase academic performance,” de la Torre said. “I’d like to see how we can better instill the principles of equity within that framework.

“In the end, we want to align the best teachers for those who need the most help.”

De la Torre said he will also be looking to see what can be done to ensure that teachers in schools that struggle the most have the best work environment.

Superintendent John Deasy said he also welcomes the discussion and any suggestions the board might offer, but isn’t sure what the outcome of the dialogue might lead to.

Deasy said classroom size is certainly one factor that may contribute to a student’s performance, but there are other factors that may also play a part and also may need to be looked at in the long haul.

Deasy said he is pleased with the district’s classroom sizes overall, compared to the rest of the state, but he would like the district to be more competitive with public schools back East.

“Inside the relative context of California, we do well,” Deasy said. “But I’d like it to be more competitive with Connecticut and New York.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 5, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/010506.pdf?ref=smdp.com)