French Immersion Task Force

 

Notes for May 31, 2005

 

Present:  Lori Phillips, Charles Menzies, Anne Trudel, Evelyn Funk, Henry Ahking, Craig Sidjak, Janet Stewart, Valerie Overgaard, Jim Burnham, Max Adrien, Nancy Hawkins, Les King, Katharine Shipley, Andy Krawczyk, Barbara Anderson

 

DISCUSSION

ACTION

1.  Background

     Val introduced everyone and gave some background on the issue.  In spite of additional

     spaces in kindergarten there was a waitlist in Kindergarten French Immersion intake of

150 In 2004 and 250 in 2005.  The boundary system implemented which was successful until

     2005 when the lottery system was introduced.  This group will examine how the district can

     be responsive to the growing demands for French Immersion.  Les reviewed the agenda and

     introduced Henry Ahking.

 

2.  Proposed Process

     Henry walked the group through a power point presentation on a review of statistics,

     facilities, and trends. As part of the Educational facility review, the  program review including

     French Language Instruction has begun.  Issues that have  arisen are the lottery, increasing

     numbers, and sibling policies.  The objective of this exercise is to have some rules in place for

     next February.  This Program Review is expected to be a 3 year process that hopefully will

     provide for a longer range solution to French Language Instruction.  The objective of this

     Task Force is to have some rules in place for next February.  Hopefully, this solution will

     provide sufficient direction to last until the French Language Instruction Program Review is

     completed.  The summer will be available for facilities work.  The plan is to report to the

     board by Jan. 9th, 2006 so there is time in January  and February for communication to parents

     and registration.  This Task Force is working toward everything being ready by September

     2006.

 

3.  General Discussion

      One of the key points is that in the past we have been lurching from year to year trying to

      respond as circumstances arise.  Just creating more programs could displace other classes in

      neighbourhood schools.  Parents were unhappy with the lottery system.   The lottery system

      combined with catchment areas became to many an inherently unfair process.  Lotteries are

      more fair when used across the district with no  boundaries.  Others had felt that in the

      previous year line-ups were unfair to parents who could not line up due to their work

      schedule.  An online phone-in system was another option considered but not implemented 

      Janet said that staffing component decisions can be difficult especially if we have to go out of

      the province for recruitment.  Staff in Elementary French Immersion is quite young and there

      is high turnover through staff leaving and maternity leaves.  Space and staff and timing are

      challenging issues. 

      Communication – the district needs to communicate early and clearly what the goals are.

      There are 2 Late Immersion sites right now.  It was suggested that a 3rd one be created to

      feed into Churchill.  This would mean that every secondary site with French Immersion

      would then have a late French Immersion feeder school.  Retention has improved in

      French immersion at the secondary level.  The attrition level from K  to 7 in Elementary

      needs to be reviewed.  We have the numbers of attrition from K-7 but don’t know the

      reasons.  What supports do we need to supply to make it a success for all students?   Late

      immersion – understanding of boundaries for Churchill and Kitsilano for parents at

      Gordon.  Secondary French Immersion attrition is going down but the health of 3

       programs at Van Tech, Churchill, and Kitsilano is a concern.  Is French Immersion being

       challenged by other district programs and the choice legislation?  

       Spaces and staffing are key issues.  Contractual issues of bumping and seniority during

       layoffs can result in the loss of French Immersion teachers.  The issue of the English

       programs being threatened by French Immersion classes needs to be examined.  There

       are not adequate supports for students with learning disabilities in French Immersion.  Is

       French Immersion seen as a frill of choice or a basic part of instruction?  Why has the   

       demand for French Immersion grown so much?  CPF has generated interest through its

       publicity.   There is also the suspicion that a small number of parents want their children in

       French Immersion as a kind of streaming to avoid having their children in classes with ESL

       and special needs students.  VSB and CPF have promoted the program 

       Summary of issues raised:

·       Insufficient space

·       Insufficient staff

·       Communication that is early and clear

·       Secondary French Immersion

·       Capacity and declining enrollment

·       Resourcing for French Immersion

·       Understanding the demand

·       Understanding the effect of choice legislation with the neighbourhood school concept

 

 

4.  Current Situation

     Henry presented a chart of the existing situation with facilities.  He showed slides of maps

     of Vancouver showing program capacity based on a 440 Kindergarten intake  The district

     capacity of 2965 does not include Secord and Gordon Late Immersion classes.  Some of

     the maps have capacities and some have actuals.  A 2003/2004 interim provision to

     release the K intake numbers .  There is now a 440 threshold for K-7.  The addition of

     portables will balance out the numbers.  Growth from 2001 to the present is 7 % at the

     current rate of 440 K intake.  Henry showed some slides that predicted trends.  Secondary

     Program capacity is 900 right now.  In 2008/2009 figures from Kindergarten enrollment

     will show up and in 2012 figures will be very large.  If there is a declining enrollment in

     Secondary in general it might balance out.  But while non French Immersion sites have

     declining enrollment French Immersion sites may be seeing increasing enrollment.  This is

     why there is a need to look at long term plans.  Key considerations are the increase in

     Secondary French Immersion.  Can we have overall projections in growth as well as in

     French Immersion for future meetings? 

 

     Total applicants this year              646

     Kindergarten registrants               437

    

     Waitlist

     Early Immersion                            241

     Later Immersion                              30

     Total on waitlist                            271

 

     Some families sign up then choose after to not accept placements. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  Guiding Principles for the Review

     Direction and information for facilities is required by the end of June.  Step 2 and 3 of the

     Power Point are required before the end of June as well. 

     It was brought up that in Surrey School District every child that registers is given a place.

     Other lower mainland districts are dealing with this issue as well.  How are they responding?

     Do we want to grow?  The trustees have said they want to explore additional spaces.  How

     and where?  Should there be a Kindergarten and Grade 1 intake? 

     Intensive French is another option available in other districts.  Intensive French starts in

     Grade 5 with 80% of the school program.  It may be an option for Vancouver but only in a

     few schools by 2006. 

     Staffing – it is a challenge to recruit teachers who have excellent French.

     If the district chose to open up to all students it could but what about the retention rate?  Can

     we project growth from the last year forward?  Should we compare ourselves with other

     major urban districts in terms of percentage of students in French Immersion?  Max will

     report on that. 

     In Ontario they have a K/1 and 4, 6 and 8 entry.  In B.C. we only have K/1 and Grade 6 entry.

     Western Canadian numbers are more applicable than eastern Canadian figures where jobs

     require French.  Choice legislation and public education perceptions are factors.  Regular

     public school options are more often pursued by parents due to concerns about ESL and

     special needs students in regular classes.  However, there are misconceptions about public

     education.  Charles suggested the group look at the Victoria area, the Vancouver area and

     Prince George for comparisons.  He will speak to the Faculty of Education at UBC about their

     research.  What issues prevent the VSB from keeping French Immersion teachers

     and hiring French Immersion teachers? 

·       recruiting

·       timelines for hiring

·       retention of French Immersion teachers

      It was suggested that the VSB contact universities to attract teachers through teacher

      education programs.  That has been done in the past.  The College of Teachers requirements

      for out of province teachers are barriers to some teachers.  Contract issues are problematic.

      Key Considerations:

·       Increase for Secondary FI – Existing or New Site

·       LFI Growth – New Site and Boundary for Sec FI School

·       EFI – Target Growth and Impact to Sec FI Capacity

·        

FOR FUTURE MEETINGS

 

·       Model – 1/2K, Single-Track/Dual-Track, Annex-Main

·       Location Factors – Demand, Availability of Space, Other

 

 

 

6.  Tasks for next meeting

·       How much expansion – Obtain trend data

·       Intake in K and Grade 1 – expansion  Demand and proximity

·       2 K intakes plus 2 classes at the Secondary level are preferable

·       Space availability and size of schools is an issue (coordination of gym & lunchroom use)

·       Staffing – strategies from HR                                                                                  

·       Forecast of demand

·       Information on how Surrey provides a space to every student requesting French Immersion

 

Henry

 

 

 

Janet

Evelyn

Max

 

7.  Next meeting

     Thursday, June 9th at 1:00 p.m. in Room 102.