Lansdowne parents oppose proposed French Immersion cuts

The public will speak out on a Rainbow District School Board proposal to cut French Immersion programming at Lansdowne Public School at a meeting tonight (Oct. 25).

The meeting takes place at 5:30 p.m. in the Lecture Theatre at Lasalle Secondary School.

A final decision will not be made on the matter until Nov. 22.

If trustees vote in favour of staff's recommendations next month, Lansdowne Public School will no longer offer French Immersion, effective 2013-2014.

Board staff recommend that Lansdowne French Immersion students instead attend one of the following schools based on boundaries: Ernie Checkeris Public School, Carl A. Nesbitt Public School, Westmount Public School and Alexander Public School.

The families of children attending French Immersion at Lansdowne will make a presentation on the topic at the Oct. 25 meeting.

According to a press release from the parents' group, Lansdowne should continue to offer French Immersion because:

-The school offers the only French Immersion program in the downtown/Flour Mill/Donovan neighbourhood.
-If the children attending French Immersion at the school have to leave, they would not be able to access special programs and supports such as the breakfast club.
-Lansdowne is the only school to provide both French Immersion and Ojibwe language and culture. First Nations families would have to choose between French Immersion and their children learning their native language and culture.
-Parents would find it more difficult to volunteer at a school farther away.
-There has been an increase in enrolment in French Immersion at the junior kindergarten level for the last few years.

“With the support of Lansdowne families and our community, we believe we will be able to convince the Rainbow District School Board that kids and families from our downtown neighbourhoods need to continue having the opportunity to participate in French Immersion in their own neighbourhood,” Kate Barber, chair of the Lansdowne School Council, said in a press release.

Rainbow board staff are also recommending Sudbury Secondary School continue to offer French Immersion, but only if the school has an enrolment of 45 students in Grade 9 and Grade 10 on October 31, 2012.

However, if enrolment is not maintained, no new students will be accepted in French Immersion in 2013-2014. Students currently enrolled in French Immersion at Sudbury Secondary School will graduate from Sudbury Secondary School.

Those presenting at tonight's meeting were required to make a request to do so 10 days ago. However, the board is still accepting written input until Oct. 28.

Send written submissions to Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor, Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning, Rainbow District School Board, 69 Young Street, Sudbury ON, P3E 3G5, fax 705-674-3167 or e-mail [email protected].