Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - Wawasee's Minority Issues Task Force and "Rays of Hope" are working in the school system to address concerns of the Latino community.
The task force was developed in September when concerns arose after ISTEP testing.
Jeff Van Drie told the school board Tuesday the task force has discussed many issues and developed procedures to be implemented by Jose Vazquez, the English as a second language director.
The initiatives include:
• Stressing the importance of communication between the school and the community. Van Drie said a Spanish language paraprofessional, a Latino janitor and two Latino coaches have been hired by the corporation, in addition to the ESL director.
• The ESL program should be geared toward learning English, not maintaining Spanish.
• Dealing with racial slurs suffered by minority students. Some teachers reflect cultural ignorance, Van Drie said, and the corporation plans in-services and other activities to ensure a more positive environment in the 1997-98 school year.
• Eliminating the use of "migrant" and related labels.
• Ensuring that language doesn't serve as a barrier for admission to the corporation's gifted/talented program.
The task force meets three times a year, as well as if a specific problem arises that needs to be addressed.
