Quick, decisive action by Chapter Leader Melissa Wall saved five teachers from being excessed at IS 109 in Queens — and preserved the school’s approved plan to reduce class sizes in its 6th-grade classes.

The Queens Village middle school was one of more than 800 New York City public schools that received Department of Education funding last spring to lower class sizes to meet the new limits set in state law.

When staff returned in September, everything was in place to bring 6th-grade class sizes down to 23 students — a decrease from 30 the year before. The school’s plan called for adding two 6th-grade classes, for a total of 12, and hiring two new teachers.

But early in the fall, the district informed Principal Lukia Naraine that, due to lower enrollment, she had four days to excess five teachers or face a $500,000 budget penalty — a move that would have made the class-size reduction impossible.

Naraine immediately turned to Wall, the school’s chapter leader of more than a decade. Wall contacted her district representative and UFT Assistant Secretary Mike Sill, the union’s point person on class-size reduction.

Wall had attended a training session with Sill and remembered his advice to reach out if any issues arose. “I gave him all the details, and he told me he would raise it at his next consultation with the DOE,” she said.

Following that consultation, Sill told Wall that the district had been instructed to back off and that the school could proceed with its original plan.

“The smaller class size has been a blessing,” 6th-grade teacher Pollyanne Palazzo said. “It provides our learners with more opportunity to receive more individualized attention and instruction. In turn, we get to know and connect with our students in a more meaningful way.”

Last June, the DOE rejected the school’s proposal to reduce 7th-grade class sizes to 23 students as well, but Wall said the school plans to try again this year.

In the meantime, Wall’s colleagues are grateful for her advocacy.

“I’ve been at IS 109 for almost 24 years, and Melissa is the most dedicated, effective UFT rep we have ever had,” said teacher Tom Dassau. “We all knew Melissa would fight this.”