Dual-language plan meets critical reception

Plans to convert Frank Porter Graham Elementary School to a magnet school were overwhelmingly rejected by children, parents and teachers at a Chapel Hill-Carborro City School Board meeting Thursday night.

Nearly 60 people spoke to an audience of more than 100 at the meeting. Many children were brought to an overflow room to make more room for adults at the meeting.

Parents of children attending both Mary Scroggs and Frank Porter Graham elementary schools expressed satisfaction with the dual-language program, but said they were concerned about the impact of converting Frank Porter Graham to a magnet school.

School officials have said the transition to a magnet school would fix the Spanish dual-language program’s major issues and that Frank Porter Graham, a centrally-located school, is the best option.

But community members said it would hurt, not help, the goal of expanding access to the program. They argued it would disrupt a school community that has made great strides in recent years to close its achievement gap.

Kathy Irvin, a parent whose children attend Frank Porter Graham, said there was no study to measure the feasibility of the magnet school, including the cost, presence of qualified teachers and willingness of students to enroll in the new school.

“I think there may be many regrets if you rush into creating a magnet school based on this report,” Irvin said.

Some speakers expressed concern that Frank Porter Graham officials were not adequately involved in the decision making process. An online survey commissioned by the district was not translated into certain languages.

“How could you possibly make a blank form decision without knowing what FPG is about,” said Carroll Scott.

Ann Stevens, a mother with two children in the dual-language program at Emily Scroggs, said a magnet school would reduce the diversity of the district by driving more native Spanish speakers toward Frank Porter Graham.

Stevens said it would reduce the linguistic diversity that was a part of the school district’s identity.

“Creating a magnet school that native Spanish speaking students would need to attend to receive their best education represents segregation,” she said.

But not all parents were opposed to the board’s plans.

Tammy Lemoine said two of her three children have been involved with the Spanish dual-language program and that the program should be expanded to other schools.

“We support the administration’s plan for Spanish dual-language expansion,” she said.

The board will vote on whether to approve or deny the report June 7.