Jen Mahuta, a science department chair and chemistry teacher, used to teach only two or three classes at Lansdowne High School, filling the rest of her time assisting other science teachers. But, after Baltimore County Public Schools cut hundreds of teaching positions in the last few years, her responsibilities grew.

Now she teaches four classes that range from 20 to 29 students. She’s managing but worries about the safety risks that come from nearly 30 students conducting experiments in front of an open flame.

“When you have a very large number of students working with equipment and chemicals or what we have in our science classrooms, we have to really ensure that … safety is truly buttoned down,” she said.

The number of students in a classroom could grow if the school board passes Supertintendent Myriam Rogers’ proposed budget next week. It would cut nearly 600 positions, including more than 300 educator jobs.

Although data shows the majority of Baltimore County classrooms have fewer than 25 students, parents and educators say some classes are bursting at the seams. And, with fewer teachers, those who remain fear they will continue to do more with less.

The cuts are necessary, Rogers has said, because the school system is on the hook for pay raises and expanded benefits for 20,000 union employees, to the tune of $93 million. She’s said that $3.5 million could be at risk due to an enrollment decline and changes to a federal program that helps feed students from low-income families.

The definition of a large classroom varies by building and by grade, said Kelly Olds, president of the union. Twenty preschoolers in a room, for instance, is probably too many, she said.

The school system uses a staffing formula to determine how many students a teacher should have.

• Pre-K and kindergarten: 22 students
• Grades 1-2: 23 students
• Grades 3-5: 24 students
• Middle school: 22 students
• High school: 23 students

There are outliers, of course. At a public hearing last month, parent Simone Volikas said some classrooms have 30 students.

Under Rogers’ proposed budget, the formula could grow to 25 students per teacher for first grade and up.

Rogers said at the meeting that factors such as the number of free periods offered to teachers also affect class sizes. The fewer teachers working, the more kids in a classroom.

“As the system navigates fiscal challenges, expectations for teacher quality and the support provided to teachers remain unwavering,” a meeting document stated. “BCPS is committed to prioritizing strong instructional support, effective leadership development, and responsive structures that sustain high-quality instruction across all schools.”

Department chairs like Mahuta usually teach fewer class periods than other teachers.

Mahuta said her days became busier as cuts kept happening. In 2024, around 500 positions were cut. The following year, more than 400 were on the chopping block. Periods in which she once had to assist other science teachers are now used to teach other classes.

“It becomes very crucial to have a very balanced schedule in my day,” she said.

Administrators assist with duties that once fell to her, including talking with a student who isn’t engaging or who is cutting class.

Then there’s the “nerve-racking” issue of having a packed room during chemistry labs, she said. She’s always been firm about safety rules, but now it comes with more stress — taking a little bit of the fun away.

Teachers are concerned about the students who need extra support, she said. The more students there are, the harder it is to offer individual help. That “quiet, struggling student” can more easily fly under the radar.

Given the position cuts, Lansdowne has had to focus on courses that meet graduation requirements and cut back on electives, according to Mahuta. That means popular science classes such as zoology and forensics got the axe. Two teachers were reassigned to other schools because of it, she said.

A presentation Rogers shared with the board showed high school engineering and technology classes are commonly crowded, with an average of 24 students. Over 60% of those classes have more than 25 students.

That presentation also showed most elementary students are in classrooms with no more than 25 students. The biggest classes were in fifth grade, where classrooms have 20 students on average and 78% of classes have 25 students or fewer.

Olds said it takes time away from other responsibilities, such as helping new teachers “learn and grow.” She said she doesn’t think there’s a magic solution to the issue and acknowledges the competing needs in the budget.

But she said it’s not clear where the money is going.

The proposed budget book does not list every position on the chopping block. It shows that, for example, 324.8 full-time positions are decreasing due to “changes in teacher staffing ratios” but does not list which schools and grades each of those positions comes from.

Mahuta said the cuts and class size changes don’t help morale. Teachers are on edge. They still find joy in working with their students, she said, and are grateful for the new building the school is getting next year.

“But, if we have fewer adults in the building, it’s going to feel a little lonely in a larger space,” Mahuta said.

About the Education Hub

This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more.