Parents and world‑language teachers urge West Valley to maintain two language options after German role reduction
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Summary
At public comment, multiple West Valley teachers and parents urged the board to preserve two secondary world‑language options, citing a state two‑year language graduation requirement, regional comparators and concern that the German position was reduced to 0.6 FTE and posted.
Multiple West Valley world‑language teachers and a parent asked the board May 13 to retain two secondary world‑language offerings so students have a choice when they register for grade 8 and to reverse a recent staffing reduction affecting German instruction.
Jennifer Nelson, a West Valley High School Spanish teacher and parent, told the board she supports maintaining “1 FTE position for a world language other than Spanish for grades 8 through 12.” Nelson cited the state graduation framework requiring two years of world language and said reducing local options would limit student choice. “Without district support, West Valley would become the only school district of comparable size in our region and even across the state to offer just 1 language,” she said.
Molly Forteil, a Spanish teacher who recently returned from teaching in Madrid, presented comparative data she said the department compiled showing that similar‑sized districts typically offer multiple language choices, and she urged the district to remain competitive and provide families with options.
Janie Larson, a Spanish teacher and parent, expressed particular concern about the German program. Larson said enrollment in German declined for multiple reasons over the past 15 months and that the district had reduced the German position to a 0.6‑FTE posting. “Now that the German position has been posted and reduced to a 0.6 part time position … the likelihood of us finding a qualified, vibrant personality to draw students in and rebuild the program has dropped dramatically,” Larson said.
Speakers linked the availability of multiple language offerings to college and career readiness and to the state graduation framework for the Class of 2019, which made two years of world language a formal part of the 24‑credit requirement. No board action on world‑language staffing was taken during the public comment period; speakers said they were asking the board to preserve staffing and provide student choice.
Board members acknowledged the comments; the superintendent’s written report and personnel items appear elsewhere on the district’s published records for follow up.
