Several members of the public expressed their desire to save the Elementary World Language program at the latest school committee meeting, a budget casualty that saved over $49,000 in next year’s budget.  The program currently teaches kindergarten and first grade students Spanish and was scheduled to be extended to second grade next year.  Rather than spread the program out with reduced classroom time among the three grades, school committee members decided to eliminate the program with the hopes of reinstating it in better fiscal times.

That plan did not sit well with several parents and teachers who expressed their desire to save the program during the school committee’s March meeting or with those speaking in its favor at Wednesday’s meeting.

Parent and former school committee member Anne Ward informed the board about a grassroots group to reinstate the language program called “Save Our Spanish.”  Ward said it is clear that the program was “eliminated for budget reasons and budget reasons only,” and that the 20 committed parents assembled in the group would work to raise $50,000 to reinstate the program.

“We want you to know we want to work with you to reinstate this valuable and much-loved program,” said Ward.  “We hope you will begin to address opportunities in next year’s budget process so if cuts should be necessary next year, we cut programs that may be outdated, non-academic or under-enrolled.  Let’s hold on to the best Duxbury Public Schools has to offer and let go of anything else.”

Ward recognized that any money that becomes available in the next few months to the schools will be used for priorities and stressed that the elementary Spanish program was one such priority.{sidebar id=4}

“We would like to know what is on the priority list of the school committee and how we can work together to ensure world language is given the support it deserves,” she said.

After stressing the benefits of the program to students at a young age and as they grow throughout the school system, Ward played a tape of students in the class reciting days of the week and other Spanish words.

Ward’s speech was followed by other parents who also called for reinstating the program.  Parent Maria Lochiatto expressed her daughter’s enthusiasm for learning Spanish and how she used it to communicate on a recent vacation.  Parent Chris Benson also shared a personal experience of how her first grader held an entire conversation with a Spanish-speaking person that got into where the man was from and other cultural details, providing for a very educational experience.

The last of the speakers supporting the program was Efrain Ruiz, who said while he does not have children that would benefit from the program, he was a product of a bilingual education and thought it would greatly benefit all Duxbury students.

Committee members issued no reaction to the speakers or the organized group’s efforts to raise money for reinstating Elementary World Language.

They did, however, get a financial update earlier in the meeting from Business Manager Mickey McGonagle regarding refinements to several of the fees the group voted on including in the FY05 budget.

The first one McGonagle discussed was the proposed co-curricular fee of $50 per activity at DHS and $25 at DMS versus the current one-time rate for participation.  McGonagle said that initial data he has collected shows it will generate less than the current flat fee.

He suggested the committee re-examine the move and take a more detailed look at the change.  Committee member John Magnarelli said he is not looking at the fee as a revenue generator but rather what is proper to charge students.

“I don’t want to use fees to balance the budget, I want it to be the right fee,” said Magnarelli, pointing out that Duxbury’s fees are the third highest among 14 area towns.

Regarding the proposed $180 per student transportation fee for students who live under two miles from the school, McGonagle said he wants to get information out this May regarding the fee and how the school plans to collect funds.  He said that he prefers to ask for the fee to be paid by this June for logistical reasons and suggested those who do not meet a set deadline be charged $200 per student with a cap at $400, feeling that a financial incentive would increase timely replies.

McGonagle also suggested refining the parking fee at DHS to adjust to students getting their license during the school year.  Rather than charging a student in September for a space they won’t use until the spring, for example, McGonagle suggested a graduated fee of $100 after September 1, $50 after January 1 and $25 after April 1 to accommodate this situation.

Assistant Superintendent John Kerrigan suggested the committee review the information provided by McGonagle and vote on it at their next meeting after information has been shared with the public on the possible adjustment in some of the fees already discussed.