Voices from FLANC regarding school closure of Glenwood
Bonnie Wang
Dear Board of Education,
My name is Bonnie Wang. I speak on behalf of the largest language educator association in the state, FLANC (Fostering Language Acquisition in North Carolina) and as a former president of the Chinese Language Teachers Association of North Carolina. Behind me are more than 500 language educators from across these memberships.
We recently learned of the proposed closure of at least one of the three elementary schools in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, including Glenwood Elementary School -the only school in this district with a Mandarin magnet program.
We understand that school boards face difficult budget and enrollment decisions, especially at a time when public schools across North Carolina are under increasing pressure. In the past four years alone, 57 public schools in our state have closed. While declining birth rates are one factor, chronic underfunding and the expansion of private school vouchers have also made it more difficult for public schools to attract and retain families and teachers.
But I am here to urge you to keep Glenwood open -and with it, both its Dual Language Immersion program and its world language program.
Why does this matter?
First, North Carolina is a national leader in dual language education -ranking among the top five states in the country and number one in the Southeast. Programs like Glenwood’s Mandarin Dual Language Immersion are part of that success story. They are not only high-quality educational models, but also serve as examples that other districts look to when building sustainable, innovative programming.
Glenwood, in particular, stands out. While some schools in the district are operating at significantly lower utilization, Glenwood is at approximately 95% capacity and is the only elementary school in the district that saw enrollment increase in 2026. Families are choosing this school, and choosing this district, because of what Glenwood offers. Closing a school that is thriving and in high demand sends a troubling signal not only locally, but across the state.
Second, language programs require long-term commitment and stability to succeed. Families have chosen this district, moved homes, and enrolled their children specifically because of Glenwood’s Mandarin pathway and its integrated STEAM2 model. This program did not emerge by chance. It was the result of years of strategic planning and community input, when district leaders deliberately expanded Mandarin DLI into a schoolwide model that integrates language, culture, and STEAM learning.
Disrupting or dismantling that pathway would not only interrupt students’ academic progress in a program that depends on continuity across years, it would also undo years of thoughtful investment by this district and previous Boards. It risks breaking trust with families who made significant personal and financial decisions based on the promise of sustained access.
Third, both programs serve distinct and complementary purposes, and together, they create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. The Dual Language Immersion program develops bilingual, biliterate students equipped for global careers and civic engagement. At the same time, the world language program ensures that all students, including those not in the immersion track, have access to language learning and cultural exposure.
These programs are not interchangeable, nor can they simply be separated without consequence. They function as an integrated ecosystem. Splitting them would not create two viable programs — it would diminish both and erode the unique sense of community that has made Glenwood successful.
Importantly, Glenwood is also a place where multilingual and multicultural families feel seen, valued, and represented. It is one of the few spaces in the district where Chinese language and culture are actively celebrated and woven into daily school life. At a time when anti-Asian sentiment continues to be a concern nationally, this kind of inclusive, culturally affirming environment is not incidental, it is essential.
Closing or fragmenting this program risks sending a deeply discouraging message to Mandarin-speaking and Asian families in the district, who make up one of its largest minority groups. Research on school closures consistently shows that when families feel their communities are no longer valued, they are more likely to leave. In a district already facing enrollment challenges and rising housing costs, this is a risk that cannot be ignored.
Finally, the proposed closure raises important questions about alignment with the district’s own data and planning processes. Glenwood is not among the most costly schools to renovate, nor was it identified as a priority for closure in prior district reports. When decisions appear to diverge from previously established evidence, it can further undermine community trust.
I am not here simply to oppose a closure. I am here to ask you to protect what is working, to preserve a program that is attracting families, strengthening the district, and preparing students for the future.
FLANC stands ready to support the district with data, examples from across the state, and collaborative solutions that can help meet your goals while preserving language access for students. Our network is eager to partner with you in identifying constructive paths forward.
We urge you to keep Glenwood open, and to preserve it as a complete, thriving school community.
Regards,
Bonnie Wang
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