The North Carolina General Assembly made strides late Monday to ease the adverse effects of its class-size regulations.

The Senate Education Committee passed a new version of House Bill 13, which would allow schools to move into lower class-size restrictions over a period of two years.

If the new legislation passes, school districts would need to reduce maximum class sizes in kindergarten through third grade from 24 to 23 as of next year. In 2018-2019, that number would need to be further reduced to the mandated 19-21 students, depending on grade level.

School superintendents would also be required to report to the state more frequently on a district’s progress toward meeting the mandate and how funds are being spent to do that.

“To me, it’s the way state government ought to work when they take into account the concerns of the people that live throughout the state,” said Dr. Don Phipps, superintendent of Beaufort County Schools. “It turned into a plan that’s workable that provides a great deal of relief for us. It’s a huge relief right now.”

Last year, legislators passed the mandate to reduce kindergarten through third-grade maximum class sizes from 24 students to 19-21 students. The legislation caused unattended consequences, however, as school districts were faced with the need for more personnel without the funding to do it. Some districts would also be forced to cut ancillary positions, such as art, music and physical education teachers.

At its April meeting, the Beaufort County Board of Education reported it would need to hire 27 more positions in the fall to accommodate the lower class sizes — not to mention the need for more classroom space and materials. The board estimated the 27 positions to cost more than $1 million, which could only be accrued through extensive cuts elsewhere. HB 13 was legislators’ attempt to relax those class-size restrictions and give local school districts more authority on setting their own restrictions.

Another aspect of the new version of legislation is an agreement to look for some sort of state funding specifically for those ancillary positions at risk, which would further soften the blow come 2018-19.

“We don’t know what that formula looks like. We don’t know how much money will be in that. I’m not saying that as a negative. We’re very grateful that they’re looking at doing some allotments in those areas,” Phipps said. “I feel hopeful because the fact that they’re going to look at some allotments specifically for those (positions) … that’s something we don’t have, a separate allotment.”

Phipps said the school district would also have more time to plan for class-size changes over the two-year period, which is a more manageable situation.

Beaufort County Schools is still crunching numbers to see about personnel changes for this upcoming year, but Phipps said he is sure any changes will be substantially less painful.

The Senate passed the new legislation late Tuesday in a 47-2 vote. It will now make its way to the House.

“I’m looking at it glass full completely — not at glass half full,” Phipps said. “It’s a situation, considering where we were at in a dire situation, I think they stepped up to the plate to deliver it.”