Parents and students urge board to keep dual-language program at Wilson Elementary

Scores of residents used the meeting's public forum to press trustees to keep the dual-language immersion program at Wilson Elementary, arguing the program is integral to the campus culture and that moving it would disproportionately burden Spanish-speaking and lower-income families.

"DLI is not just a program at Wilson. DLI is Wilson," Stella Faranacci, a Wilson student, told trustees during the open forum. Parents and students said many DLI families walk to Wilson and that relocating the program to Denton Creek or another campus would increase commute time, add transportation costs and could prompt some families to withdraw from the program.

District staff acknowledged the concerns and said they would provide transportation required under state rules to eligible emergent bilingual students and would attempt to move program staff together where possible to preserve continuity. "We would make sure all Spanish learners who qualify for this program would also receive the transportation required per the state to meet their needs," assistant superintendent Angie Brooks said, while noting many operational details would be decided only if the board directs a consolidation option. Trustees asked for further detail on the number of students who currently walk to campus, the plan for after-school activities, and culturally competent outreach to Spanish-speaking families.