To keep kindergarten class sizes low, Mattapoisett School Committee members want an additional teacher hired.

Chair James Higgins made the suggestion Monday after Superintendent Doug White presented the fiscal year 2016 draft budget.

White proposed a budget of $6,331,626, an increase of 2.1 percent over the current budget of $6,201,949. White’s budget did not include funds for an additional kindergarten teacher.

Earlier in the meeting, Principal Rose Bowman told the committee that 54 kindergarten students attend Center School this year. She projected that 60 students would attend next year.

In the past, teachers from other grades were shifted to accommodate large incoming kindergarten classes. Higgins disagreed with the practice.

“Every year it seems, especially in kindergarten, we’re unsure of the class sizes and are waiting to see how many kids will be attending,” Higgins said. “If we have to increase the class size in one grade that’s not ideal.”

Also, kindergarten is the only grade with three teachers. All other grades have four teachers.

The request, which would increase the draft budget significantly, needs to be vetted by the Finance Committee.

Higgins said an additional teacher would stabilize class sizes.

“I think if we convince [the town] and get four teachers per grade now we wouldn’t have to worry about variables next year,” he said. “If we really push and ask for it that would have the most impact on kindergarten.”