Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Translation Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parents call for translation at Asbury Park board meetings; board directs staff to find technical and interpreter options
Summary
After several Spanish‑and Creole‑speaking parents urged clearer communication, the board directed administrators to search for existing translation equipment, explore technology and interpreter vendors, and report costs and recommendations for English/Spanish/Creole meeting access.
Multiple parents and organizers who addressed the Asbury Park Board of Education on May 27 highlighted language access as a barrier to participation and understanding.
Public commenters repeatedly asked that the district retain interpreters and bilingual staff. A parent who identified herself as a retired district employee said bilingual parents “are going to be suffering based on the budget cuts.” Another parent, Maria de Galing, urged the board to retain interpreters so families can communicate with schools.
Board member Miss Ramos moved to secure interpreters for meetings; the motion was amended to direct the superintendent and business administrator to search for any existing district translation equipment, to explore technology options (closed captioning or real‑time screen translation), and to examine the cost of hiring human interpreters. The board set a goal of providing English, Spanish and Creole access and asked staff to return costed options to a future meeting.
Acting Superintendent Mr. Ruiz and board members suggested a phased approach: first confirm whether district equipment exists, then evaluate low‑cost technology options such as captioning or phone/app‑based translation, and finally consider live interpreters where needed. Members noted live interpretation could substantially extend meeting length and that committee work will prioritize which materials (agendas, notices, minutes) should be translated first.
Next steps: the business administrator and superintendent will report back with a list of existing equipment, vendor quotes for technology solutions and interpreter rates, and recommended priorities for translating agendas and public notices.
