Grade 6 French immersion student James Chen and five of his peers approached the large ominous desk in front of members of the Richmond School Board Monday night and laid out their best argument as to why their McNeely elementary late French immersion class should not move next year.
The courageous speech was enough for trustees to unanimously vote to keep the class next year despite recommendations of school district staff that it should be joined with an early French immersion class at Mitchell elementary in order to save $100,000.
"Je suis tres excite (I am very excited)," said Chen, when asked to explain his emotions in French following the meeting.
Numerous parents representing both Mitchell and McNeely schools attended Monday's board meeting to decry plans by the district to shut down the McNeely class as a result of low enrolment.
They had previously protested the possible closure last month.
"I'm just happy to have the kids complete Grade 7 at their own schools. Both programs will be able to finish the way they are supposed to," said Colleen Cheung, a parent of a Mitchell student.
Mitchell parents were concerned their children would be adversely affected by having late immersion students enter the early immersion class.
Kirsty Petersen, a member of the Canadian Parents for French, spoke to the board prior to the vote, noting that, according to her organization, there had never been a case of merging late and early immersion students prior to Grade 8. She said the merge could have had negative outcomes for all the students because they are at different levels of French communication.
"You're asking parents to take a leap of faith for something that has no precedence," Cheung told the board.
Despite the constant financial pressures circulating in the district the board voted unanimously despite the apparent costs of running the class with just 10 students. Trustee Eric Yung was the first to speak out against the transfer idea.
"I feel, we as a board implicitly made a promise to build a program. …So we must finish it," said Yung.
While the parents and students got their way, the late immersion program at McNeely will nevertheless close come June 2015.
"We can't continue to run three sites," remarked assistant superintendent Lynn Archer, who said only 60 new students registered district-wide in late French immersion for next school year where they may attend Whiteside or Diefenbaker.
"It warrants discussion in the district as to why this is," said trustee Norm Goldstein, of the apparent lack of interest in the McNeely program.
Board chair Donna Sargent also noted that moving the students in their Grade 7 year was another factor to consider. Trustees Rod Belleza and Kenny Chiu were absent.
