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French Immersion – NEW Program Should We or Shouldn’t We?

February 20, 2010 By Caroline Smith

This past Wednesday at a SCDSB Program Committee meeting, the issue of shifting to a full French Immersion program was discussed.  The concept would include replacing  the current Extended French program, grades 5-8 and secondary, with a full French Immersion program grades 1-8 and secondary .  The new program would start in grade 1 and go through to grade 4 in one school location and would continue for grades 5-8 in another location. In Clearview and Collingwood the two schools proposed were Admiral Collingwood and Connaught.( see map for all locations in county). Changes to the secondary program were not discussed.   The cost to implement this program over 5 years is approximately 3 million dollars.

I have attached the FI Feasibility Assessment – Phase 2 report.  Key to to the discussion is whether transportation should be provided to the new program and the question of what will have to be cut from future budgets to cover the 2.9 million price tag. Further is the question of moving students from one elementary school to a second, as they age through the new program. The motion to action this change passed committee and is coming to the Feb. 24th Board meeting. It is possible that at that time the issue could be referred to a Special Board Meeting on the topic, but there is no guarantee.

I personally am having trouble balancing the value to students of implementing a new program, without answers as to what will be cut from the budget to make it possible.  This past year the Reading Recovery Program, which focused on early grade English reading needs for primary students, was cut drastically.  The 1.9 million that was transferred from reserves to pay for this program for 2010-11 was a 1 time deal.  Reading Recovery will in all likelihood be totally cut in the upcoming budget.

I also believe that it is a reasonable step to consult with parents and communities as to their opinions on the dual school French Immersion concept and what cuts to other programs might be acceptable.

There is an article in the Orillia Packet and Times today that is a good backgrounder to the issue at hand (see below).

French immersion eyed

EDUCATION: Board considers cost of creating new program

NATHAN TAYLOR, THE PACKET AND TIMES

French immersion could be coming to the Simcoe County District School Board.

If trustees approve the recommendation from the program standing committee, French immersion will begin at one school in the southern part of the county in the 2011-12 school year.

The program would then be extended to three schools in the second year and the ultimate goal of nine schools over the following few years, accommodating an estimated 2,500 students.

The program would have participating students immersed in 100% French instruction in Grades 1 and 2. English instruction would be gradually introduced in Grades 3 and 4 and would make up 50% of the day in Grades 5-8.

The move would be a huge programming change for the board, which currently offers extended French at some schools, as well as its regular core French program.

The matter sparked a lengthy discussion and debate at Wednesday’s program meeting. At the heart of the debate was the cost of transporting students to the immersion sites.

Once the program is fully implemented, it would cost nearly $2.9 million a year.

Trustee Caroline Smith said it was “too costly for a small number of children.”

“We couldn’t even get money to teach children how to read English,” she said, referring to last year’s divisive budget issue, the reading recovery program.

Reading recovery, which provides one-to-one support for Grade 1 students in need of intensive instruction, was on the chopping block last year. The program was sustained, however, with funding from reserves.

Smith wasn’t ready to commit to a move that would require the board to find $2.9 million in savings from the budget without first knowing what would be cut.


LINK TO FULL ARTICLE

Filed Under: Budget, Collingwood & Clearview Twp Area, Collingwood (Town), Featured, French, Meetings, Program, SCDSB Tagged With: ,