The Gloucester County School Board changed its policy regarding student/teacher ratios during its meeting at the T.C. Walker Education Center Tuesday despite the consistent objections of one board member. The change aligns the board’s class size policy with state standards.

Previously, the board’s policy on class sizes stated they would be maintained within state-prescribed limits, but held to local standards that called for ratios of 18/1 in kindergarten through third grade, 20/1 in grades four and five, 22/1 in grades six through eight and 25/1 in high school classrooms.

The state standards hold average ratios of 24/1 in kindergarten, with up to 29/1 if a teacher assistant is assigned; 24/1 in grades one, two and three with no class larger than 30; 25/1 in grades four through six with no class larger than 35; and 24/1 in English classes in grades six through 12. 

The board strove to hold onto its local standards, but budget reductions over the last eight years hav...