Grimsley Spanish Immersion Program to be discussed at tonight's school board meeting

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Suzan Antin

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Sep 27, 2012, 10:35:48 AM9/27/12

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I had an early medical appointment today and, while waiting, noticed a small announcement in the paper saying that the Spanish Immersion program would be discussed at tonight's school board meeting. Here is the link to the meeting materials; you can find them under the District/Board of Education/Meetings/Meeting Materials tab on the gcsnc.com main webpage if this does not work:

http://www.gcsnc.com/education/components/scrapbook/default.php?sectiondetailid=354077&linkid=nav-menu-original-4-40393

The focus seems to be on the transportation issue. You may or may not be aware that, while transportation is provided for K-8 students, if you live outside the Grimsley attendance zone, NO transportation is provided for high school students assigned to Grimsley for the purpose of continuation of Spanish immersion. This has been a real hardship for many of us, as classes don't start until 8:51. Last year, my son took an extra class that began at 7:45 a.m., but because I must be in my room by 7:25, I was forced to drop him off at 7:10 and let him wander campus for 35 minutes. Additionally I know of three male students in Cory's class who have had to drop out of immersion because the transportation obstacles were too great.

In looking at this report, GCS staff seems to assume that all 91 kids who are reassigned for immersion would request transportation, which I don't think is accurate. Many juniors and seniors will drive, and some at the end of sophomore year will drive too. Also, the report seems to assume that the transportation cost will be nearly $250,000. This may be true if they assume that all 91 out of district kids will request transportation, and the stops will all be new, but I feel that no one is looking at current bus routes and better utilizing them. For example, there are buses that go all over Guilford County to pick up VSN kids who go to Lincoln - why could those buses not pick up immersion students also, and take them to a hub?

If you want to speak before the meeting, you can sign up in advance by calling 370- 8100, or you can sign up at the meeting. I think the meeting is on Eugene St. around 6 p.m. but I cannot find this info on the GCS website. You can also email the board chair, Alan Duncan, the at-large reps Dr. Nancy Routh and Dr. Sandra Alexander, and your neighborhood attendance zone rep in advance of the meeting. Their email addresses can be found at this link: http://schoolcenter.gcsnc.com/education/staff/staff.php?sectiondetailid=264748&

(In case you are wondering, I took 1/2 day off for my medical test and will go in today at 11:15!)