The Rochester School Committee has decided to not join the School Choice Program for another year, because additional students may push class sizes too high.

The decision came on Thursday night at following months of discussion about possible benefits and disadvantages the program poses.

“You really have to balance whether or not it’s good for the district,” Superintendent Doug White said.

Right now, the average class size at the school is between 18 and 22 students, a “comfortable” number according to White.

With a projected incoming class of 45 to 50 kindergarten students on the way, White said committee members should be cautious. For every student that chooses to attend Rochester Memorial School the district receives $5,000. However, for every student that leaves the district to attend school elsewhere, that same amount is lost.

“I can’t see more than ten students joining the district, that’s fifty thousand dollars for the district. Is it worth the effort? I don’t know,” White said.

At the same time, the school will be hiring a new administrator. Also, committee members expressed interest in voting next month to offer full day kindergarten classes. Before then, the committee will seek public opinion on the change, set to save the district money by eliminating mid-day bus service.

Committee Chair Michelle Cusolito said the committee should be careful to not approve too many changes, too soon.

Before the vote, Committee member Timothy Scholz encouraged adoption of School Choice on a limited basis. Only a few slots should be opened, he said.

“If we’re going to experience it now is a good time,” he said.

Committee members said they would not support his position. The vote to reject entering into the School Choice Program was unanimous as Scholz decided to vote alongside his fellow committee members.

Schools are allowed to decide how many students may enter the district through school choice and at what grade level. By law school committees must vote each year of they are going to participate in the program.