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Teacher-parent urges Sioux City schools to restore dual-language pathway for Irving students
Summary
Mike Whitlock, a district teacher and parent, told the board the district has failed to expand dual-language instruction into middle schools after 2021 boundary changes, calling the treatment of Irving families disrespectful and asking the board to 'get dual language into the middle schools.'
Mike Whitlock, a teacher in the district speaking as a parent, told the Sioux City Community School District board the district has allowed ‘‘blatant disrespect and inequalities’’ toward Irving Elementary and urged officials to restore promised dual‑language pathways into middle schools.
"Do your job, fulfill the promises that were made, and get dual language into the middle schools," Whitlock said, adding that the program costs he referenced amount to about $1,220,000 a year districtwide for Spanish programming and roughly under $25,000 annually for some Irving‑specific consumables.
Whitlock said the 2021 boundary redraws fractured Irving families and routed many students to East Middle — 5.6 miles away — instead of the nearer North or West middle schools. He also said the district did not follow through on a Jan. 27, 2021 email from then‑Superintendent Gausman that, he quoted, promised the dual‑language program would "continue without interruption" and be expanded into secondary schools. "This never happened," Whitlock said.
The board did not take action on Whitlock's request during the public comment period. Several board members and the interim superintendent later discussed the district's dual‑language task force and said work is underway to move dual language into middle schools "starting the following year." Interim Superintendent Jim Vanderloo told the board a task force recently met at Irving and that the district has dates to move the effort forward.
Board members asked about concrete steps and past assurances; Whitlock pressed the board on inconsistent transfer approvals and what he called a "who do you know" process for allowing student transfers. He also said Irving lacks extra staffing for its program and that decisions appear influenced by personal grievances.
The meeting record shows no immediate policy or funding vote tied directly to Whitlock's comments; the superintendent and staff said they are continuing conversations and that the dual‑language task force is meeting to plan next steps.
