The extra student in some Prince William County classes this year has become a headache for teachers, school board members and administrators, and could now be a problem for taxpayers.

The schools incrementally increased average class sizes in grades four through 12 during last year’s budget crunch to save millions by hiring almost one fewer teacher per school.

“It’s an initiative we had to employ that saved about $5 million, but that we don’t necessarily like,” said Bob Horwath, Prince William County Schools supervisor of budget.

The measure increased the class sizes for fourth and fifth grade by one student and the middle and high schools by half a student. When spread across the 72,654 student district, it accounted for 66 teaching positions, Horwath said.

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“When we are talking about the class size ratio, there is not a single item that will affect education like that one,” school board member Grant Lattin said.

Restoring that cut emerged this week as a critical component of school board members’ proposals to improve education at a budget workshop with county supervisors Wednesday.

Prince William County Board Chairman Corey Stewart said restoring class size limits is something that has to be done, but also stressed that in a dismal real estate market, the everyone must understand it will be a difficult budget year.

Supervisors are considering a tax rate increase of 25 percent to help pay for the class size measure and $27 million in other school priorities next year, which would increase the average homeowner’s tax bill 8 percent.

Though it’s just a one-student increase, Prince William Education Association president Megan Link said it can make maintaining discipline and offering individual instruction more difficult, which translates into lower student performance.

“I’d say it’s a top concern for teachers at every level,” Link said.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com