Board members ask about bilingual/ESL waiver; staff say district supports certification with training
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Summary
Trustees questioned a bilingual/SLL program evaluation that referenced teacher waivers; staff said waivers allow teachers without ESL certification to work up to one year while the district files the waiver and provides paid training and testing.
A board member asked for clarification about a waiver referenced in the bilingual/SLL program evaluation, and district staff explained how the waiver is used and the supports in place for teachers pursuing ESL certification.
At the start of the information-items discussion, a trustee asked what the waiver covers and why the district is filing it. "What are we asking to be waived from and why?" the trustee asked.
Miss Owens responded that the waiver is used when a teacher has not yet completed ESL certification or is in an alternative certification program. "We're required to have ESL certified teachers in all classrooms," she said, "but sometimes in the hiring process, people have either not gotten that certification just yet or maybe they're going through an Alt Cert program and they're working towards that, but we have to file a waiver. And they can only be on that waiver for one year." She added the district files a professional-development plan for those teachers and pays for required training; the ESL test is currently free for certificate additions.
Board members said the number of teachers on the waiver has fallen this year and praised staff work reducing waiver reliance. Trustees did not take action on the informational item but requested no further immediate steps at the meeting.
The board will continue to receive program evaluations and may revisit staffing incentives or certification supports during budget or human-resources discussions.