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Parents, union and board spar over proposed consolidation of Willard and Bessie Rhodes two‑way immersion strands at Foster
Summary
After months of engagement, administration recommended consolidating Willard and Bessie Rhodes two‑way immersion strands into a double‑strand program at Foster; dozens of parents, teachers and union leaders urged the board to preserve Willard placements and for fuller family engagement.
Dozens of parents, teachers and union leaders urged the Evanston District 65 board on Dec. 15 to preserve neighborhood bilingual offerings and oppose administrative consolidation plans that would move Willard and Bessie Rhodes two‑way immersion (TWI/TWE) strands into Foster School.
Kelly Post, president of the District Education Council, told the board: "Paraprofessionals are essential to the daily success of our schools" and urged support for a contract and living wages for paraprofessionals, tying workforce stability to educational quality. Cynthia Battle, president of the Evanston Teacher Assistants Association, added: "I am standing here tonight on behalf of every paraprofessional who serves..." and said paraprofessionals continue to work without a contract.
Many parents focused on program placement. Meg Durer (parent and attorney) raised a procedural point: "The Illinois code and the school policy makes it clear that magnet programs are a board decision," and asked the board to…
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