The Judson Independent School District (JISD) held a regular board meeting on December 19, 2024, where significant discussions centered around the future of the Spanish Immersion Program at Wortham Oaks Elementary School. The meeting featured passionate testimonies from parents advocating for the program's continuation, highlighting its importance to the community and the educational development of their children.

Isidro Paul Garza, a parent of two students at Wortham Oaks, expressed his concerns regarding the potential discontinuation of the Spanish Immersion Program. He emphasized that the program was a key factor in his family's decision to move to the area, as it provides essential language skills that enhance communication with Spanish-speaking family members and the broader community. Garza pointed out that the program has consistently attracted more applicants than available slots, suggesting a strong interest among parents and students. He proposed the idea of expanding the program to accommodate more students, rather than replacing it with a dual language curriculum that he felt did not prioritize Spanish language acquisition for English-speaking students.

Following Garza, Sherry Pegram also spoke in favor of the Spanish Immersion Program. She addressed misconceptions about student attrition rates and the program's capacity, clarifying that initial class sizes were smaller due to its pilot status and challenges related to recruitment post-COVID. Pegram argued that the program has maintained a waitlist and suggested increasing class sizes to better accommodate demand. She recommended adopting practices from other districts, such as allowing more flexibility in enrollment criteria and filling open slots with local applicants.

Both speakers underscored the program's value in fostering bilingualism and cultural understanding, urging the board to reconsider any plans to phase it out. The discussions highlighted a community commitment to preserving educational opportunities that support language learning and cultural integration.

The meeting concluded with a call for the board to evaluate the future of the Spanish Immersion Program, with parents advocating for thoughtful changes that would allow it to thrive rather than be replaced. The board's response and any subsequent decisions regarding the program will be closely watched by the community.