Students, families urge district to preserve Hmong language classes as teacher vacancy threatens program

Dozens of students, parents and community members told the Eau Claire Area School Board on the night of the meeting that the district risks losing its Hmong language course because the current teacher will not continue and no licensed replacement has been confirmed.

The comments came during the board’s public forum, when students from Memorial and North high schools and Hmong community leaders described the class as vital to cultural connection, identity and cross-cultural understanding. “As much as the Hmong students love this language class, others do as well,” said Valerie Yang, a senior at Memorial High School and student council president. “We want to see more transparency.”

The speakers said the district’s announcement that the class may not continue has left students and families uncertain. Yuva Vang, treasurer of Hmong PTA and representing Power Up, told the board that “there are students ready to learn, 50 students who will not be able to learn this year because we did not have a teacher to teach.” Several students echoed that a Hmong language offering benefits non-Hmong classmates as well. “This class did not only make me a more well rounded and whole person,” said Lucian Gendorf, a student who said the course helped him understand peers and form friendships.

Speakers asked the board and district for a clear plan for licensure and hiring, and for sustained funding and commitment. “We need leadership, investment, and commitment from this board and from the district leadership,” Vang said. Other students described the class as central to identity and cultural preservation: “Language is an identity,” said Seth Roberts, a Memorial High School student.

Board members did not discuss the matter at the meeting. Commissioner Farrar reminded speakers that, under Wisconsin open meetings law, the board cannot respond to or take up matters not on the published agenda that evening. “The board will not be speaking about Hmong language tonight. We legally cannot,” Farrar said, adding that audience members were welcome to stay and observe the remainder of the meeting.

The public comments on Hmong language were confined to the board’s allotted public forum; the board included no Hmong-related item on the published agenda for the evening and made no administrative announcement of next steps for the program during the meeting.