WEST SPRINGFIELD – English as a second language (ESL) education was the focus when the West Springfield School Committee met on May 14. In addition to a report by Sharlene DeSteph, the director of English Language Learning, Principal Kathleen Bailer of Cowing Early Childhood School brought teachers and six ESL students to the meeting for a presentation of how they are teaching language.

Bailer began by thanking the School Committee for the addition of an English language teacher, Michelle Longey, who was hired earlier this year. Bailer said that Longey was working with ESL students to bolster language skills in early childhood education and that it was an asset to the community to have multi-lingual students. Bailer also said there was an initiative to encourage the students to practice native languages at home.

Longey then explained to the Committee how she uses games to connect language skills to math concepts. The game she and the children demonstrated involved the children selecting a picture card and telling the other kids, in full sentences, whether the object on the card was bigger or smaller than they were. This satisfied their language learning and comparison goals for the preschool math objectives.

“We’re working a lot on talking in complete sentences,” Longey said. She said the class was building their “language of math.”

During the children’s game, Longey displayed, “total physical response,” which consists of using hand and body motions, including sign language, to help solidify concepts. It was also important, she told the Committee, to give every child a voice, and to do so she often splits them into small groups.

A Cowing Alternative School student named Larissa Velez Agosto celebrated her 9th birthday be appearing before the Committee. One of her teachers, Susan Messier, said the student spoke no English at the beginning of the school year. Messier said Velez Agosto can now speak English and is learning to write it.

Velez Agosto  stood in front of the committee and read a comparison of blue whales and killer whales that she had researched and co-written, Longey said.

“What a wonderful job you’re doing with our children. We really appreciate what you do,” said Committee member Pat Garbicik. After the presentations, the students took pictures with the School Committee.

The Director of English Language Learning, Sharlene DeSteph, updated the Committee on the work that was being done to make sure the school district is compliant with the 2017 Language Opportunity for Our Kids (LOOK) Act. She said that the LOOK Act gives greater flexibility to the language programs, but also holds them to higher standards through greater oversight.

DeSteph outlined the standards for the district, including student success plans and Pre-K ESL services. In order to make sure the district was hitting their goals, DeSteph brought an independent consultant, Dr. Bertha-Elena Rojas, to review the language programs.

There were four objectives identified in the review: response to dual learners, identification of professional development, creating curriculum, and identifying ESL students as opposed to English Language Development (ELD). EDL includes students who learn grade–level content in a class with their proficient English-speaking peers, said Longey.

“Everybody shares the academic responsibility of our English learners and we have to find a way to embed that over the course of the day,” DeSteph said.

Currently, ESL students are mostly clustered at Coburn Elementary School. A Committee Member asked about those students being reintegrated into their neighborhood schools. Superintendent Michael Richard cited logistical issues.

“If we were to revert to neighborhood schools, the dreaded redistricting word would have to be brought forward,” Richard answered.

The Committee passed an agenda item, which Richard explained, would increase the tiered pricing for district sports over the next two years. In the 2019–2020 school year, the fees for the majority of sports will be $80 per participant, football will cost $125, and ice hockey and skiing will go up to $400. The next year will see prices increase to $100 for most sports and $150 for football, while ice hockey and skiing will stay at $400. There will be a reduced half-price rate for economically disadvantaged students.

Kristen Lussier, the SNAP–Ed program coordinator, addressed the Committee to talk about the school gardens initiative, for which they have received federal funding. She listed the ways in which school gardens can benefit students, including an increased motivation to try different fruits and vegetables, more hands-on learning opportunities, promoting physical activity, and connecting local sourcing of food that they grow themselves.

“We’re hoping to get a group of volunteers,” to help build the raised garden beds, Lussier said. They will begin at the high school, which Lussier said, is already on board with the project. She is conducting information sessions to try to get other schools and community members involved.

Garvey asked how the initiative would work since the school calendar and the “gardening calendar” don’t line up. Lussier explained that she is trying to connect with summer programs and volunteers to maintain the gardens outside of the school year.

When asked about keeping animals out of the gardens, Lussier said they had funds to build fencing and, because the beds would be raised on legs, most small animals would be unable to reach the food.

Richard gave the Superintendent’s Report and updated the Committee on the search for two principals, one for Tatham Elementary School and the other for Coburn Elementary. Three candidates had been interviewed for the Tatham position and the Superintendent’s office was deliberating on which one to hire. Four people had been interviewed for the Coburn position, however, none of the applicants were chosen and the position has been reposted.

Richard said that construction costs for the Coburn School renovation are being calculated by two different firms. Bidding on the job is expected next May. Bidding on the Tatham School Modular project is ongoing.

Also announced was a 25–cent increase for on school lunches for those students who pay cash. The rates will rise to $2.50 for elementary students and $2.75 for secondary students. The district needs to raise prices to stay on target with calculations from a USDA tool. The last increase of 25 cents was in 2017.

Additionally, Richard reported that there would be a public budget hearing in the second-floor auditorium at Municipal Building on May 20 at 7 p.m. He also reminded everyone that enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year was available online only at www.wsps.org.

Committee member William Garvey urged people to attend a Fund Our Future rally on May 16 at 4:30 p.m. on the steps of Springfield’s City Hall. Fund Our Future is a campaign through the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association to increase funding to the state’s public schools and colleges. The Springfield rally is being held in conjunction with one at the State House in Boston.