By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer
Although the item was on a work-session agenda, prohibiting a vote, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education indicated to administration and the public that they support a recommendation to turn Frank Porter Graham Elementary School into a dual-language magnet school.
More than 180 parents, students and teachers attended last Thursday night’s meeting hoping to sway the board against accepting either of the dual-language administrative team’s report recommendations, which were to place a dual-language magnet school at Frank Porter Graham (FPG) and terminate the Mandarin Chinese Dual-Language Program.
Because the large crowd quickly filled the meeting room’s 180-person capacity, two overflow rooms were needed to accommodate the remainder of those hoping to either address the board or show their silent opposition.
Fifty-six members of the public signed up to speak, prompting board Chair Mia Burroughs to limit comments to two minutes; the public-comment session nonetheless exceeded two hours.
Cheryl Allen, an FPG parent, presented the board with a petition signed by 1,055 community members against turning FPG into a magnet school.
“We are not against dual-language education,†Allen said, “but we value the system of neighborhood schools that flourish in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.â€
Todd LoFrese, assistant superintendent for support services, addressed the large crowd before his presentation and acknowledged the level of community response. He also apologized for any anxiety and hurt feelings the report caused.
“Many people felt hurt and many are still feeling hurt,†LoFrese said. “I know that members of the Chinese community felt stereotyped and that members of Frank Porter Graham felt disrespected.â€
The dual-language administrative team, comprised of school principals and district administrators, released two reports, recommending expanding the Spanish dual-language program, creating a dual-language magnet school at FPG and having the board give a clear direction for the Mandarin program.
Many parents told the board they felt the report lacked data and didn’t address the risks of opening a magnet school.
“Without assessing who would come, you risk a half-empty magnet and overcrowding at other schools,†FPG parent Kathy Irvin said.
Initially, recommendations were made to cut the Mandarin program because of high costs and trouble finding and retaining teachers. However, Superintendent Tom Forcella told the board that due to increased community support and recent district outreach efforts, he believed sustainability issues could be successfully addressed, allowing the program to continue.
The majority of the board agreed and indicated they were in favor of keeping the Mandarin program, although board member Annetta Streater expressed concern over the accessibility of the program.
While this decision pleased those in attendance, the board’s next decision did not.
“I believe we need to have a magnet. I believe it needs to be at Frank Porter Graham to extend services,†Burroughs said.
According to the dual-language report, which Burroughs and other board members said they supported, creating a magnet school and consolidating all the dual-language classrooms would enable teachers to collaborate and share resources more easily, while additional Spanish dual-language classes could be added to accommodate the large amount of interest in the program.
While many members of the public proposed turning the future elementary school 12 into the dual-language magnet school instead of FPG, Forcella cautioned that waiting for elementary 12 could take longer than anticipated, noting how elementary school 11 construction was delayed by several years.
“We do need a magnet school and I am not willing to wait for elementary 12,†board member Jamezetta Bedford said.
After a lengthy discussion, Burroughs told staff she felt the board was inclined to support a dual-language magnet school at FPG.
However, throughout the meeting, Streater voiced her opposition, while board members Mike Kelley, Greg McElveen and James Barrett seemed hesitant in supporting the recommendation.
The board will vote on the recommendations on June 7. If approved, the dual-language magnet school would be the first magnet school in the district.