The Francis Howell School District plans to add 10 certified staff positions next year to keep class sizes within the state's optimum standards.

A 2012-13 staffing plan outlined during the Board of Education's workshop Thursday included a net increase of 15 certified positions throughout the district, including four contingency positions. The plan would cut six support staff positions.

The board is expected to vote on the plan during a future meeting.

Steven Griggs, the district's human resources manager, said current elementary class sizes fall within the state's maximum standards but exceed the desirable standards.

State guidelines call for a maximum of 25 students per class in grades K-2, with a desired limit of 20 students. The district's 2012-13 plan would yield average class sizes of 19.4 in kindergarten, 19.5 in first grade and 20.5 in second grade.

In grades 3-4, the state calls for a maximum of 27 students and a desired limit of 22 students. The district's plan would achieve average sizes of 23.2 in third grade and 24.2 in fourth grade.

In fifth grade, the state's maximum is 30 students and the desired limit is 25. Francis Howell would have an average of 23.1 next school year.

The plan adds six classroom teachers. It also adds a total of six other positions, including counselors, special education teachers and literacy specialists, but some of those would be part-time or single employees performing multiple duties. The plan eliminates one position working with hearing impaired students, but adds a literacy coach at Harvest Ridge and Central Elementary schools. The total is a net gain of 10 elementary positions.

At the high school level, the plan adds one classroom teacher and one counselor dealing with guidance and the A-Plus program.

The plan retains 13 positions the board approved on Nov. 3, including 10 paraprofessionals, or teachers' aides — one at each of the district's elementary schools. The aides were hired to help third-graders improve their reading skills and to work one-on-one with struggling students. The other three hires were two kindergarten teachers and one fourth-grade teacher.

The plan reduces non-certified support staff by nearly six positions. The Early Childhood Education program would lose the equivalent of more than four positions. The plan cuts two interpreters and approximately one and a half administrative assistant positions. It adds a communications technology specialist and an electrician.