2. STUDENT-TEACHER RATIOS

The Superior Court characterized the student-teacher ratios in the petitioner school districts as "hovering" around the state average. Allenstown, Pittsfield and Franklin's student-teacher ratios are higher. In Allenstown, the student teacher ratio in its first grade class is 16 to 1, an almost unmanageable level at that grade. In Franklin, the average class size in grades K-3 is 25 students, the optimum class size for that age group is 11.

A high Student-Teacher ratio does not exist in a vacuum. It is caused by shortages of teachers and classroom space.

Teachers and administrators from the petitioner school districts testified that the shortage of teachers limits the variety of subjects taught, restricts the number of honors and advance placement courses offered, decreases teacher prep time, increases the number of periods that teachers must teach daily, restricts the time teachers' devote to curriculum development and to their professional development.

3. TECHNOLOGY

Claremont - The majority of the district's 98 Apple or Macintosh computers are vintage Apple II-e's that were purchased when John Sununu was the governor. Of the 130 computers at Stevens High School, 20 are restricted for use in only one course and 70 do not work. The computers are so outdated that replacement parts and software are unavailable.

Only seven classrooms are wired to handle new technology. There are no computers capable of projecting an overhead display. There are only 20 graphic calculators in the school where the average size of a math class is 28 students.