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District proposes International Newcomer Center to serve non‑Spanish newcomer students for an initial 90‑day placement
Summary
Dr. Rita Guzman presented a proposal for an International Newcomer Center to support students new to the U.S. whose home language is neither English nor Spanish, including eligibility criteria, a tentative Bardwell location, a 90‑day placement model and a staffing plan with previously board‑approved positions.
Dr. Rita Guzman presented results of the district—s research and a proposed model for an International Newcomer Center intended for students who have been in the United States less than three years and whose home language is neither English nor Spanish.
Guzman said eligibility would include: birth country other than the United States; home language survey indicating a language other than English or Spanish; fewer than 90 days of enrollment at any U.S. school; and a WIDA screener score below 3. She said the program as presented would enroll students for about 90 days, with fluid exit for students who reach proficiency sooner.
The proposal aims to increase understanding of U.S. schooling and district procedures, develop English phonology and morphology and high‑frequency word knowledge, and support social‑emotional competence and family engagement. Guzman described sample daily minute allocations and grade‑cluster classrooms (grades 1–2 and grades 3–5) and said the plan excludes kindergarten because of universal language‑entry needs at that grade level.
Guzman presented a staffing plan that she said the board had already approved: one teacher for grades 1–2 and one teacher for grades 3–5, a teacher assistant in each classroom, one social work position (approved) to support families, and a newcomer facilitator/curriculum writer to support planning and summer curriculum development. She identified Bardwell as the tentative location and listed community‑integration activities such as home visits, school‑orientation field trips and family backpacks; she also mentioned translation tools such as the Language Lizard pen.
Committee members asked about location and operational details; Guzman said Bardwell was selected because it is close to the registration office and would be convenient for families. The committee recorded the presentation as an informational follow‑up to earlier research; no formal vote on the model was recorded at this meeting.
