Posted: 1/8/03

Spanish Immersion backers face decision

To use an old sports cliche, backers of an elementary Spanish Immersion program must ìwait until next yearî or seek other educational opportunities for their children.

Backers of the program were hopeful the ISD 831 School Board would approve the program and commence a marketing program to recruit students for a fall start. An expected large gain in open enrollment students was projected as a major revenue source to fund the program.

But facing revenue uncertainties, the board Monday night voted 7-0 to hold on the programís start for this fall and consider in the funding cycle for the 2004 school term.

During Mondayís public commentary segment of the meeting, numerous district residents and some from neighboring districts spoke in favor of the program. Some said that parents would face important decisions for their children this fall.

In planning the program, proponents have identified more than 60 district families with over 100 children who are interested in Spanish Immersion.

Mark Peterson said in a time when ISD 831 is losing more students than it is gaining by way of open enrollment, Spanish Immersion was one way to generate revenue for the district and provide vision of leadership. Starting the program was no slam dunk and offered some risks, he said, but it was a way for the district to ìfight back.î

Melissa Martyr-Wagner, a member of the task force that studied Spanish Immersion, was happy to see the high level of public interest. ìItís good to see how many people care about public schools,î Wagner said.

She also cautioned the board that a lack of program here could result in 50 kids ìwho may go elsewhere.î She urged the board to OK the program and see what the interest is.

If the board rejected the program, she said, ìYou are simply turning away some parents. I think you know they will be shopping.î

Carol Mueller-Levitt, another supporter, said there would never be a time when Forest Lake will have enough money for the program. She urged support and said parents will be active and ìwilling to do what is neededî to help raise funds.î

Julie Lundgren said parents would be forced to consider other options and said a charter school would be one.

District resident Dave Nowicki said he was not against the program but urged the board to table the program for a year. The time, he said, could be used to work on funding and securing grants that may enable the district to double the programís size and the districtís ability to offer the program to more students.

A delay, he said, would provide more time to work out busing and site questions and provide another year for the district to improve on its statutory operating debt classification.

Shannon Peterson, the Hugo resident and Forest Lake graduate who spearheaded the citizensí drive, made one final appeal to the board, calling the concept ìtried and true.î She said once start-up costs are covered, there would be no extra costs to the district for a program that produces a valuable bilingual teaching format.

ìWe know that it works,î Peterson said.

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