by Frank Schroth

Following a minor earthquake School Committee Chair Glenn Pavlicek opened last night’s session which was a specially called meeting to permit parents to voice their concerns regarding the upcoming vote of the committee on a recommendation from the Superintendent to cap the French Immersion enrollments beginning in fall 2013. The session, held in the Winchester auditorium, lasted for 3/2 hours. One estimate placed the attendance at ~150. Of those approximately 36 rose to speak – some twice. The comments and remarks came in advance of tonight’s scheduled vote on the recommendation.

Chairman Pavlicek prefaced the session by providing a brief history of the discussions that brought the committee to this juncture.  The trends began emerging about 4 years ago. A World Language Committee was eventually formed to look at options for managing enrollment across the programs.  Pavlicek included an explanation of the district’s legal responsibilities to English Language Learners (ELL) and Special Needs students. ELL learners are required by law to be in English classes that have a resident English speaking population in them. They cannot be made up solely of ELL students. He noted that English is the language of instruction in MA and that anyone requesting it must have that request granted. Regarding special needs students, approximately one out of seven have an IEP (Individual Ed Plan). Pavlicek cautioned parents to be sensitive and aware that special needs students represent a wide range of disabilities many which may not be evident to the average person. These are our friends and our neighbors he said. They are often invisible, which he said is the way they want it. He closed by saying, “We are talking about our children. [Let’s remain] as civil as possible.”

The audience complied. While some speakers spoke with passion, all were respectful of the committee and each other. The speakers were pretty evenly divided between those in favor of the cap and those opposed. Those in favor of the cap felt it would bring the contentious chapter to a close and establish a firm foundation for the success of all three programs: Englush, French, and Co-taught (Co-taught classes are classes that integrate special needs with non special needs students. They have two teachers.). Opponents to the cap argued the cap was premature, had not been fully thought through, that other options should be considered, and were seeking the vote be deferred. Many also lobbied for siblings to be given preferred treatment should a cap be implemented. Assistant Superintendent Phelan said preference was given to home schools (ie the neighborhood school to which the family was assigned) but not the program. The parents seeking this included “straddle” families, those who have a student currently enrolled in French, and a sibling coming along in the next year or two.

It was stated that there are a total of 182 available seats for French. The current enrollment of the 1st grade is at 200.

Passion was in evidence. Margaret Eberhardt addressed the audience and forcefully argued that the school system excelled not because of French or English; but because of the “caring, loving, giving people” that make it up. Jerry Vitti, Chair of the Parent Advisory Council (PAC) spoke in emotional terms of his special needs daughter who he said is  “a role model for everyone.” His wife stood at his side becoming tearful. “We didn’t ask for this. . . [but we] have a moral and legal obligation to stand up for these kids.” Deborah Milbauer received applause several times during her remarks. She commended the committee for their work and voiced her appreciation for the difficult position they were in. But she also challenged them, expressing disappointment with the process and questioning why the the vote could not be delayed, why there was no information on other options explored, and why there was no sibling preference. She asked the committee to “Please heed the cries of the community.”

The committee will meet again tonight at 7:00 at the MHS library. A vote on the cap is on the agenda, however, Chair Pavlicek could not confirm if a vote would be taken. The committee was hearing community input and would not have an opportunity to discuss that input until this evening.