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Davis Journal

District begins French Dual Language Immersion study

Mar 23, 2023 11:52AM ● By Becky Ginos

Second grade Foxboro French Immersion teacher Korbie Harrison (left) decorates her classroom for another year with the help of her sister, Shaylee Fowers (right) in 2021. File photo courtesy Korbie Harrison

NORTH SALT LAKE—The Davis School District has several dual language immersion programs and at Foxboro and Odyssey Elementaries it’s French. Recently, parents at both schools have expressed concern as there has been talk of combining the programs into one school. 

At the last school board workshop Elementary Director Traci Robbins gave an overview of the study that is being conducted to determine what changes may need to be made to provide the best learning experience in a fiscally responsible way. 

“We’ve watched enrollment over the last three years,” said Robbins. “Program enrollment trends are showing better at Odyssey. At Foxboro there has been a little bit more attrition so we’re seeing some decline but it’s not big.”

The projection there would be more families moving into Foxboro has not happened, she said. “Some of the Foxboro families built homes and went to Odyssey so we’ve not been able to sustain the program like we thought.”

Part of the process is to look at school demographics, transportation needs, Title I, preschool, social behavior and if it impacts where students move to, Robbins said. “We also have to consider staffing availability and cost, visa and work eligibility, class size and student attrition.”

Robbins said other considerations include: 

  • Effects of possible program adjustments on school demographics
  • Access to special programs currently housed in schools
  • Jr. High and High School course articulation and availability through school feeder patterns
  • School culture and climate

A steering committee made up of administrators, teachers and parents has been formed to study these issues over the next few months. 

“We sincerely assure the community that no administrative decisions have been made to remove or consolidate French DLI programs at this time,” said Robbins. “A study like this takes a very long time. We’ll be fully engaging with the community and go slow and steady. We can confidently say that none of the possible outcomes being studied will be implemented this year or next year.”