FARMINGTON—After proposing to the Davis District Board of Education in a July board meeting that studies be done on the Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs of South Davis Junior High’s French program and Lincoln Elementary’s Spanish program, administrators presented the findings to the board at the Sept. 16 meeting. The study was to determine whether the programs should be consolidated to a neighboring school with the same program. 

“There are currently 106 students in the French DLI at Mueller Park,” said Chris Keime, Secondary Director. “There are approximately 10 from the South Davis Junior High boundary.”

The feeder patterns also have an impact on the program, he said. “The high school French Bridge is at Bountiful High School and South Davis Junior High is 100% feeder to Woods Cross High School. Neighboring Mueller Park feeds into Bountiful High.”

Keime said they provided a digital feedback link for the community to weigh in on the decision. “We had eight responses as of 2:30 p.m. today (Sept. 16). Three stated a preference of Spanish over French and two weren’t aware of the French DLI program.”

One respondent stated that numbers show community interest is low and another program is in close proximity, he said. “One shared the benefits of their son who completed the French DLI through high school and the need for promoting the program and educating parents on the benefits.”

Ultimately, Keime recommended to the board to close the French Dual Immersion program at South Davis Junior High and consolidate it with the French Dual Language Immersion program at Mueller Park Junior High.

Keime laid out the next steps: 

• Notification of affected parents and municipalities
• Oct. 7 and Nov. 18 opportunities for public comment at regularly scheduled school board meeting
• Oct. 10 Class A Notice of Public Hearing
• Oct. 23 public hearing at South Davis Junior High
• Nov. 18 School board vote on recommendation

No board action will be taken until the Nov. 18 meeting, he said.

The study of the Lincoln Elementary Spanish DLI program has met with emotional pleas from the families of students in the program. At the last board workshop Sept. 2, several parents and even students spoke in favor of keeping the program at Lincoln during the public comment period. 

“Dismantling the only DLI at a Title I school just sends the wrong message that our kids at a Title I aren’t worth the investment,” said a teacher at the school. “It’s a pathway to empowerment and opportunity for dignity. So I plead: don't close the door, make it wide for parents and students.”

“I beg you to keep immersion because we need to open our minds to the possibility of a new language,” said a sixth grade student. “Some of my friends can only speak one language. It’s the happiness of knowing you can speak two languages.”

“When we moved in 10 years ago everyone told us don’t send your kids to Lincoln they don’t get the resources they need,” said one man. “We looked at other options but the reason why we kept them at Lincoln was one, because of the diversity and two, because of the Spanish Immersion program. That’s the only reason we went to Lincoln at all.”

Elementary Director Doug Forsgren gave the board an overview of the public comments they had received that were submitted via digital form.

“What we heard were the benefits of Lincoln’s DLI program,” he said. “It contributes to the culture, cultural awareness and enhances equitable access. There was strong support for continuing to support Lincoln DLI.”

After looking at the data and hearing the community feedback, Forsgren recommended to the board to conclude the program study with no changes to the Spanish DLI program through board action at the business meeting on Oct. 7.

“This is one of the more emotional things I’ve dealt with on the school board,” said Board member Michelle Barber. “It’s a community I care deeply about. I hope parents felt involved and heard. There’s a unique feeling of strong community when you walk through the door.”