Chariho committee votes to reduce French teacher position amid student pleas to preserve program

The Chariho Regional School Committee voted late in its meeting to reduce the contractual full‑time equivalent for French teacher Claire Latham from 1.0 to 0.6, a move district leaders said reflected current enrollment and scheduling constraints.

The decision followed a public hearing held as part of required pre‑nonrenewal procedure. Latham, who has taught French in the district since 2014, told the committee the timing is “a grave mistake,” arguing that state requirements and local demand should prompt the district to strengthen—rather than shrink—its world language offerings. “If Chariho recommits to offering a full French program, not only will enrollment in French begin to rise again, but Chariho students’ average SAT scores will improve as well,” Latham said.

Nut graf: The committee’s vote to reduce Latham’s position came after several parents…