LEWISTON — The Lewiston School Department is hiring.

Seven more educators — two kindergarten teachers and five ed techs — will be hired to reduce class sizes in Lewiston elementary schools, the Lewiston School Committee unanimously voted Monday night.

Superintendent Bill Webster said the new faculty members could be in their rooms by Nov. 1.

The cost will be about $250,000, which is not in the budget; $50,000 for each teacher, $30,000 for each ed tech, in annual costs including salary and benefits.

Some of the money will come from an anticipated surplus of $58,000. Another $150,000 from positions approved in the budget but not yet filled, including a special ed supervisor which would cost between $75,000 and $80,000.

One kindergarten teacher will be added at McMahon Elementary School, where three kindergarten class sizes are 26 and another is 25.

A teacher will be added at Montello, which had class sizes of 22 but a higher number of poor students and immigrant students learning to speak English.

The other elementary schools will get more ed techs.

The problem of crowded kindergarten classes surfaced on Sept. 8 when McMahon parents complained to school committee members that 26 students with one teacher and no ed tech is unacceptable; that Lewiston was not complying with a state regulation that calls for kindergarten ratios to be no more than 20 students per teacher.

Committee members asked Webster for a report on creating a fifth kindergarten class at McMahon.

Webster came back with a recommendation to do something about overcrowded classrooms at all elementary schools. Of the city’s 20 kindergarten classes, seven classes have 25 or more students. The city’s student population is growing, there’s a lack of space in schools and money in the budget. Last year, three teacher positions were cut, including one kindergarten teacher.

Before making a recommendation, Webster said he sought input from his school principals.

“The challenge we all had was how to best ensure equity across all our schools,” Webster said. “All our schools would benefit from more resources, if not smaller kindergarten classes.”

Committee member Linda Scott said she was concerned about the needs not met by not filling positions approved in the budget.

Not hiring a special ed supervisor position is not ideal, Webster said. Before he decides which other positions won’t be filled, he will get input from his principals.

McMahon PTO President Jodi Wolverton asked why action wasn’t taken before now.

“We’re three or four weeks into September. I’m curious why we’re so far down the road and this wasn’t addressed in August,” she said.

Committee Chairman Jim Handy said the Lewiston City Council last year said the budget had to be cut, which mean positions were eliminated.

“We grappled with it,” Handy said. “We were very judicious about reducing our original proposal to them. They said ‘cut it back.’ It was a drastic cut.”

Also, it’s not unusual for parents to enroll kindergarten students after school begins, Handy added. That means before school starts the number of kindergarten students “is a moving target.”

Wolverton asked what will be done about future classes as current kindergarten students become first- and second-graders. “That’s where participation in the upcoming budget is critical,” Handy said, encouraging parents to stay involved.

Handy praised McMahon parents for raising public awareness about crowded classes. “We thank you for that.”

The committee’s vote means McMahon will get a fifth kindergarten class, each with 20 students instead of 26 or 25.

“I’m really happy,” said Janet Beaudoin, a kindergarten parent and McMahon PTO vice president. “It’s a major win for our city.”

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