Update – the full text of the Superintendent’s presentation on Grade One Assignments can be found here.
At the 10/3 session of the School Committee the Superintendent presented her plan for capping the enrollment in the French Immersion program. She began with a review of why she made that recommendation. She cited recent enrollment trends which have impeded the districts “ability to provide an optimal learning environment” for all students.
Her approach to implementing a “Lottery/Capping” model includes:
- Implementing the plan at the beginning of the 2013 school year
- Determine the level of interest in the Gr 1 English and French programs. This would begin with a info night held in February hosted by Superintendent and open houses at in the Grade 1 classes at the schools. In March families will select the program of their choice
- All students who select English will be assigned to English at their neighborhood school
- Students who select French will be placed in a school based lottery. Each student will receive an assignment number
- Determine the number of Gr 1 seats. The schools building configurations allow for differing numbers of 1st Grade strands (classes). Collicot and Glover each have 4 strands, 2 French and 2 English. Tucker and Cunningham have 3, 2 English and 1 French. Each school will have a minimum of 2 English strands. Thus a total of 14 strands in all. If more than 14 are required the superintendent will “create any additional sections based on needs of the district. Class sizes will be determined by the Superintendent. They may be up to 22 for English and up to 26 for French.
- Students will be assigned through a school based lottery. Once the available seats are filled, students not placed in French will be put into English at their home school assuming space is available. They will also be placed on a wait list if seats open up. However the wait lists will be ended once the school year begins.
- In addition, the superintendent noted that in its first year of implementation the Cunningham would have 4 1st Gr strands to account for the current 4 Kindergarten strands.
The presentation had been preceded by Citizen Speak. Jerry Vitti, representing the Parent Advisory Council, spoke in support of the cap. Mr, Vitti said that the PAC viewed the situation as a civil rights issue not one pitting French vs English. PAC is a mandated council that advocates for special needs students and ensures that they receive an equal education in the least restrictive environment.* He also asked that the begin with the 2013 school year. Mike Drozdick requested that consideration be given to what he called “straddle” families. Those are families that have one child enrolled in French and one child yet to enter the system. If the cap is imposed this year there would be no guarantee that his second child could share the same curriculum as the first. He also stated that he had been assured by the schools that this was not a scenario his family would have to deal with, Otherwise, “[we would] have taken the more cautious approach.” He said he had “a unique stake and unique vulnerability.” Stanford Brown another parent also said he had been assured his child would have French available but understood the school may not be guaranteed. He also said he felt “vulnerable’ and asked that any capping system be implemented as a multi-year plan and that the current Kindergarten class be exempted.
The committee had a number of questions and comments. Ms. Kelly asked about the 26 seat number of French and said that was large for a class and that historically the town had looked for a maximum class size of ~23. She also questioned whether the plan would allow for properly “balancing” the classes given there are only two English classes to work with. French classes have a higher enrollment due to some matriculation over the 5 years in elementary. English are lower to allow for students entering the system after Gr 1. Chair Pavlicek noted that they had sought the advice of counsel and that “weighted lotteries” were not permitted. They could run “afoul of federal law.” The plan essentially leaves the class size up the discretion of the Superintendent. A French class may be up to 26. Mr. Walker did not see an issue with the 26 seat number in light of the high demand for French and the fact that the data indicates those classes perform slightly above English. In general the majority of the committee seemed to be in agreement though none explicitly said so. Sheridan and Bagley-Jones said the lottery should be for all students (ie no preference given to siblings).
Member Walker eventually asked if there was any reason not to take a vote. Ms. Kelly objected saying that the expectation had been set at an earlier session indicating parents would have an opportunity to express their points of view. Walker believed those who wanted to express their thoughts had done so. Bagley-Jones, while amenable to putting off the vote, thought a delay would prolong a painful process. Chair Pavlicek said that an extended Citizen Speak could be made at the October 17th meeting to allow the public to respond to the plan presented.
Ms. Gormley said that the presentation would be available on the school web site as of ~8:30AM 10/4.