A group of parents, teachers and administrators tasked with helping determine the fate of Blue Valley’s Chinese Immersion program is nearing the end of its work.
For months, the group has been working toward a solution to the sustainability concerns the district raised about the six-year-old immersion program earlier this year.
The task force will come back to the Blue Valley Board of Education with a final recommendation this fall.
File photo via Blue Valley School District.
The district formed the task force in February
The move came as a response to concerns from the Blue Valley School District earlier this year that the program is unable to continue operating as is.
This primarily stemmed from staffing challenges, which district officials attributed to various factors like the required licensure for the program and the impact of the immigration process timeline on teachers.
At the time, several parents voiced support for the program and urged the district to look to parents for other options.
The task force will bring a final recommendation in November
The group has now met four times since it formed earlier this year, with two more meetings to go.
The task force will present a recommendation for the board to discuss in November, and the board will take final action on it in December.
“I know that it’s a valued program in the district,” said board member Patrick Hurley, who serves on the task force. “And I think there are hopefully opportunities to continue that or expand it into the other feeder systems.”
The group has reached some common ground
Melissa Bayouth, Chinese Immersion parent and member of the task force, said the group has been working toward a compromise given the ongoing staffing struggles in the district.
While no final decisions have been formed yet, Bayouth said the group has managed to establish some recurring ideas — such as postponing the program’s start from kindergarten to first grade, and establishing a district-level role for a program advocate who speaks both English and Mandarin.
“One thing that parents have really noticed a trend within the KC metro is the growth of immersion programs in school districts,” she said. “People are moving to Blue Valley for the Chinese Immersion program. And I don’t think that some people understand the ramifications of if that changes.”
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