I'd like to point out that this important board meeting was held on the first night of Passover, when Jewish families would not be able to attend. I understand this was a regularly scheduled board meeting but they should have moved this discussion to another date.
Here's my guess on the decision to close Bessie Rhodes rather than move the school into another building as was previously suggested by Omar Salem: Since a large fraction of Bessie Rhodes students are from the 5th ward, if Bessie Rhodes stays open and those students stay at Bessie Rhodes, there won't be enough students for the 5th ward school. Of course, the board can't say that part out loud. Is that what's going on?
I have a question as I was not in Evanston for the mandarin program at rhodes but I would love to be filled in on the history of that program and the death of it. Or does it still exist? I found this quote from an article in 2017 and it sounds very familiar to the current situation...
"Bessie Rhodes parent Kuan-Ren Su said he was concerned that the school’s administration only contacted parents four days before Beardsley presented the TWI program to the board.
“I have strong feelings that (the program) was made very much in haste,” Su said. “From what I understand, it was discussed for the past couple of years, but for them to make a decision so quickly, there was a lack of communication with parents.”
Su said he sent his children to Bessie Rhodes for its Mandarin program.
He said he fears the Mandarin program will be eliminated because administrators have said it is unclear how the school’s other language programs could be affected by the implementation of the TWI program. Su added that he does not have anything against the proposed program, but he fears Spanish-speaking students would be prioritized over his children.
“Prior to receiving the email, we’ve been very happy to go to Bessie Rhodes,” Su said. “It’s kind of heartbreaking to hear that it’s going to change.”
I'd like to point out that this important board meeting was held on the first night of Passover, when Jewish families would not be able to attend. I understand this was a regularly scheduled board meeting but they should have moved this discussion to another date.
Here's my guess on the decision to close Bessie Rhodes rather than move the school into another building as was previously suggested by Omar Salem: Since a large fraction of Bessie Rhodes students are from the 5th ward, if Bessie Rhodes stays open and those students stay at Bessie Rhodes, there won't be enough students for the 5th ward school. Of course, the board can't say that part out loud. Is that what's going on?
Cynically, I think the D65 board stopped caring about TWI and the Hispanic community after the last presidential election changed who was in office.
I have a question as I was not in Evanston for the mandarin program at rhodes but I would love to be filled in on the history of that program and the death of it. Or does it still exist? I found this quote from an article in 2017 and it sounds very familiar to the current situation...
"Bessie Rhodes parent Kuan-Ren Su said he was concerned that the school’s administration only contacted parents four days before Beardsley presented the TWI program to the board.
“I have strong feelings that (the program) was made very much in haste,” Su said. “From what I understand, it was discussed for the past couple of years, but for them to make a decision so quickly, there was a lack of communication with parents.”
Su said he sent his children to Bessie Rhodes for its Mandarin program.
He said he fears the Mandarin program will be eliminated because administrators have said it is unclear how the school’s other language programs could be affected by the implementation of the TWI program. Su added that he does not have anything against the proposed program, but he fears Spanish-speaking students would be prioritized over his children.
“Prior to receiving the email, we’ve been very happy to go to Bessie Rhodes,” Su said. “It’s kind of heartbreaking to hear that it’s going to change.”
From https://dailynorthwestern.com/2017/11/09/city/district-65-officials-propose-two-way-immersion-program-bessie-rhodes-school/
Its crazy that district 65 doesn't offer mandarin that I know of. Or does it?
Sounds like a good turnout! Hoping if there's another march that I can make it.