The Mattapoisett School Committee has another month to decide if it will open more slots for the school choice program. On Monday night, the committee continued the discussion.

Last year was the first time the group voted to accept students from out of the district through the school choice program, opening three spots at the first grade level. By law, school committees in Massachusetts must vote for or against the program yearly.

A school district receives $5,000 per student, which arrives the following fiscal year.

In considering whether or not to open more slots this year, Chair James Higgins said, “I don’t ever want it to have a potentially negative effect on the students that are already here. We have to be aware that if we do open up school choice slots, we have to keep those children through the sixth grade.”

Keeping class sizes low was a major consideration for the committee. Center School Principal Rose Bowman said they try to keep early childhood class sizes at 18 to 20, but population is a “moving target.”

School choice slots are decided before the end of the school year, but many families move to Mattapoisett during the summer and inevitably cause a shift in class sizes.

Last summer, an additional 10 students were added to the second grade class.

“It’s like looking into a crystal ball,” said Bowman.

The higher numbers resulted in two classes of 23 and one class of 22.

“The teachers have done a remarkable job, but they have talked about…the challenges that they face in meeting their individual needs,” Bowman said.

Next year’s second grade class is already at the same number as this year’s class. The School Committee is looking at the possibility of adding a fourth second grade teacher in coming meetings, if the budget can be shuffled to pay for a teacher.

The budget will get a boost from $15,000 from school choice and is saving around $30,000 due to several teachers on maternity leave. Adding school choice spots would provide more revenue the following year.

As the committee continues to consider school choice, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elise Frangos suggested speaking with local real estate agents to get a feel for the number of families that could move into the area during the summer.

She also said that if the committee opens up more school choice slots, it is preferable to do so for the lower grade levels.

“Starting kids earlier with the benefits of the Mattapoisett education would be most beneficial from a curriculum point of view,” said Frangos. She said socially it is better for kids.

Only two of the three current school choice students will be returning next year, so the committee will also need to decide if the third slot will be filled.

Committee member James Muse said he was interested in keeping school choice at the schools.

“I think to close the gates after we opened them would be a mistake,” he said.

The committee will vote on school choice at its May 19 meeting, which will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Center School.