Parents tell Norwalk committees Silvermine dual‑language staffing fell short; ask for restored classes
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Summary
A Silvermine parent told the joint meeting the school’s dual‑language model was not implemented as approved, with fourth and fifth grades cut from four classes to three and a Spanish teacher post left unfilled; the parent urged the BOE and city to fund four sections per grade and bilingual intervention services.
At the public‑comment portion of the joint Norwalk City and Board of Education finance meeting, Silvermine parent Angela Hidalgo described a multi‑year pattern of under‑resourcing in the school’s dual‑language program and asked officials to restore staffing and services the program’s model requires.
"Silvermine must be funded so that each grade has 4 classes with certified teachers," Hidalgo said, adding that the district had cut fourth‑ and fifth‑grade classes to three sections and assigned only one Spanish teacher instead of two. She said required bilingual intervention and special‑education supports were not consistently provided and that families were not notified of reductions.
Hidalgo asked the committees to fund four classes per grade with certified bilingual staff and to ensure intervention and special‑education services are available in both languages. BOE finance staff acknowledged the concern and said staffing and program restorations were part of the BOE’s FY27 budgeting discussions; BOE CFO said the board included reinstated positions in its base where funding had been transferred into BOE accounts last year.
The meeting did not produce an immediate remedy; parents were directed to follow up with BOE staff for school‑specific staffing data and next steps. The BOE and city said budget details and school‑level staffing histories are available in the uploaded budget book and school‑based budget materials posted online.