Follow up Letter For The Families
July 11, 2005
Last April you attended the Southern Illinois Dual Language Coalition’s (SIDLC) Community Conference. We’re happy to report there were approximately 200 people present that day! Thanks, in large part, to your attendance, the conference was a great success! Your interest in bringing dual language education to our area and your continued support are crucial to making the dream come true. Si se puede! Yes we can!
Seventy-eight families attended that Bilingual Community Conference in April. Thirty-seven of the families were English-speaking; 36 were Spanish-speaking, and 5 spoke other languages in their homes. One hundred percent of the families expressed support for bringing a dual language program to Southern Illinois. We are in the process of compiling all the questions you asked on the questionnaire and will send you responses to those soon. In addition, answers to those questions (FAQs), will be posted on our website, along with other helpful information. The URL is: http://www.siuc.edu/~bilingualed/
We are on the cusp of something very exciting; however, it is going to take continued efforts on all our parts to make dual language education a reality for the children of Southern Illinois. Following is a report of our progress so far.
• The Southern Illinois Dual Language Coalition wrote proposals for a dual language program and sent them to the Carbondale, Cobden, Marion, and the Murphysboro School Districts, along with a request for some of our members to meet with the School Board to present our ideas for a dual language program. Carbondale and Marion have not responded. Murphysboro has asked to meet with us to discuss it. Cobden indicated that it is not interested.
• We are happy to report that there are a number of experimental Spanish-language summer camps this summer, including a summer migrant camp (Mary Montavon @ 453-3419), a Spanish immersion strand of the Saluki Kids Academy (SKA) (Lisa Smith @ 203-9888), a bilingual summer camp through the Carbondale Park District (549-4222 or 697-3800 or 528-4876), and a bilingual camp associated with the Methodist Church in Cobden (893-2050).
• We are planning a follow-up town meeting to discuss ways in which to have a dual language program in southern Illinois by our goal date of Fall 2006. This will take place on Saturday October 1st in the late afternoon on the SIUC campus. We will send you more information soon.
In order to have a dual language program, it will be necessary to make your wishes for one known to your child’s school board and school administration. One of the families that attended the community conference sent a letter to Carbondale District #95 expressing the desire for a dual language program. We are enclosing a copy of that letter here and encourage you to write similar letters. Enclosed is a list of the local school district contact information. It will likely also be necessary for groups of you (and us) to attend school board meetings and visit school administrators’ offices and express our desire for a dual language program. This is what other programs have done and it has worked!
Again, thank you for your interest and support for this very worthwhile program. Together, we can make it a reality in Southern Illinois!
Sincerely,
The Southern Illinois Dual Language Coalition
618-453-3419
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.- Margaret Mead
Names and Addresses of Local School Administrators
Dr. Elizabeth Lewin, Superintendent
Carbondale District #95
925 Giant City Rd.
Carbondale, IL 62902
Carbondale District #95
925 Giant City Rd.
Carbondale, IL 62902
Dr. Janet Broombaugh
Pre-K Program Coordinator
Carbondale District #95
Parrish School
121 N. Parrish Lane
Carbondale, 62901
Ms. Nancy Stemper,
201 S. Maple
Carbondale, IL 62901
Terrie Woodworth, Principal
Cobden Elementary School
Cobden Unit School District #17
413 N. Appleknocker St.
Cobden, IL 62920
Mr. Karl Sweitzer, Superintendent
Cobden Unit School District #17
413 N. Appleknocker St.
Cobden, IL 62920
Lori James-Gross, Superintendent
Murphysboro Community Unit School District #186
819 Walnut
Murphysboro, IL 62966
684-3781
Mr. Mike Law, Principal
Carruthers Elementary School
80 Candy Lane
Murphysboro, IL 62966
687-3231
Debra Kreutztrager, Principal
General John A. Logan Elementary School
320 Watson Rd.
Murphysboro, Il 62966
684-6061
Mr. James Hudgens, Superintendent
Marion Community School District #2
1700 W. Cherry
Marion, IL 62959