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Manchester School Committee moves forward with French immersion program
Summary
The Manchester School Committee approved a recommendation to launch a French immersion program beginning with kindergarten next fall; the board did not specify which elementary will host the program and received a $5,000 community matching pledge from the Franco American Center.
The Manchester School Committee on Jan. 13 approved a recommendation to launch a French dual‑language immersion program beginning with kindergarten next fall.
Committee members voted to move the proposal forward after discussion about school capacity and program logistics. The committee packet suggests Webster Elementary as the proposed launch site, but board members and staff emphasized that the final school assignment was not yet set. “It doesn’t specifically lay out which elementary school this program will be headed to in the fall,” a committee member said, noting Webster hosts pre‑K classes and an emotional behavior disorder classroom that could affect capacity.
The nut of the decision is that the district will pursue the immersion program while continuing to work through placement and operational details. Nicole Doherty (staff) and other district staff told the board they had discussed capacity questions with principals and recommended starting the program as proposed. John (executive director, Franco American Center), who spoke during public comment, pledged community support: the Franco American Center will match the first $5,000 in community contributions toward start‑up costs.
Board members framed the vote as a next step rather than a final implementation plan. A committee member said they had discussed program placement with Doherty and others and were “happy to move this forward.” Vice Chairman O’Connell seconded the motion at full board and the motion carried.
The board packet includes a teaching and learning committee recommendation to approve the proposed program and forward it to the full board. District staff also noted they would continue planning work — including outreach, staffing, and coordination with principals — before confirming a launch site and registration details.
What happens next: staff will continue planning, refine site placement and capacity decisions, and return details to the board for implementation steps. The Franco American Center’s $5,000 matching pledge is designated to offset start‑up costs and was offered as an initial community commitment to the program.
