By Dave Fidlin
CORRESPONDENT
Citing a desire to meet the growing needs of its English Language Learner population, officials in the Whitewater Unified School District are in the early stages of exploring a program that would offer multilingual focus across all grade levels.
Superintendent Caroline Pate-Hefty and other district officials discussed with the board the proposal, which comes at a time when WUSD is hosting a growing a number of Hispanic students whose native language is not English.
At its regular monthly meeting Jan. 24, the WUSD School Board approved the creation of a multilanguage program coordinator, as well as an English language leaner position at Lakeview Elementary School, based on the most current critical needs.
While much of the recent discussion focused on the upcoming 2022-23 school year, Pate-Hefty said her preference was to have staffing in place before the current school year closes because some of the ELL students’ needs within the district are not being fully met.
Speaking to the parents of the ELL students, Pate-Hefty said, “They are members of our community, paying taxes and sharing in this process. We just don’t have a system to support them right now.”
Multilingual instruction differs from traditional ELL programs, offering a side-by-side dual language format, rather than solely emphasizing mastery of English.
Pate-Hefty said multilingual programs vary in structure, with different ratios in place.
At a minimum, Pate-Hefty said her goal is to have the multilingual program coordinator position up and running before the current school year draws to close.
“If we want to have an effective plan that changes the trajectory of our outcomes, which are really concerning, then we need someone in place,” she said. “This type of program does not get thrown together overnight.”
While the program’s inspiration is serving the growing number of non-native English language speakers, Pate-Hefty said it could be offered to any student — including those who are native English speakers — to attain multilingual skills before graduating high school.
The board’s vote in support of the two positions was unanimous. Plans call for Pate-Hefty presenting the board with proposed job descriptions at the next regular meeting in late February.
While there was uniformity in the board’s vote, several members did express reservations with a full rollout of the program and its potential impact on the financial bottom line.
“I just worry,” board member Maryann Zimmerman said. “If you continue to raise taxes, it’s going to hurt families as well. I’m a little leery of going all in right now.”
Board member Larry Kachel shared similar concerns, citing a desire to plan carefully and methodically and stating, “I’d like to see what other districts are doing.”
Pate-Hefty said at least one neighboring school district – Delavan-Darien – does have a multilingual program in place to meet the needs of its student population.
