At its meeting last week, the Board of Education voted to re-examine foreign language instruction for middle school students.
Democratic board member Elizabeth Garcia-Gonzalez raised concerns that the school system does not have a consistent plan for a foreign language curriculum that extends from pre-kindergarten to the 12th grade.
“We do not have any consistency,” she said.
Currently there is Spanish instruction in the elementary schools, but because of budget constraints, Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School students only receive a half a semester of Spanish.
Assistant Superintendent Doreen Fuller said it translates to about 45 lessons per school year.
New London High School students then have the option of studying Spanish or French.
“This is what we can do with limited resources,” Superintendent of Schools Christopher Clouet said.
Plans call for a shift from just Spanish language instruction at the middle school to a “world languages” course that would give a sample of several different Western and Eastern tongues.
The board plans to discuss the issue with school officials at its next Curriculum Committee meeting.
The school board also briefly discussed the issue of drug testing for new hires before sending the motion to its Policy Committee. Republican member James Pearce already voiced opposition to the plan, calling drug testing “insulting.”
Democratic board member Anthony Nolan disagreed.
“I would prefer to know in advance,” he said.
Susan Connolly asked that the board also consider the fiscal impact of drug testing.
“There are several different tests out there,” she said.
Connolly said the board should also consider if drug testing would be covered under the Fourth Amendment, which in part deals with the right to privacy.
Also, citing a “consensus” among New London parents and school officials, the board approved the arts and science as the two themes for the planned elementary magnet schools.
The board also heard a report from Green Party member Kenric Hanson, who also chairs the city’s Sustainability Commission, detailing options for “greening” the magnet schools.
The board approved the 2008-2009 school calendar, which will be nearly identical to the current academic year. The board, however, resolved to re-examine the calendar for the 2009-2010 year.
The board also approved early retirement incentives for teachers.
Juanita Austin, a student at the Science and Technology Magnet School of Southeastern Connecticut, was honored as April’s student of the month.
Denise Swaitek, a science teacher at STMS, was named teacher of the month.
Carrie Clark, a substitute teacher, was also awarded special recognition.