ST. LOUIS 鈥 About 50 parents with children in the 50度灰视频 Language Immersion Schools faced the School Board chairman Wednesday and expressed a range of concerns following the seemingly abrupt ouster of founder and president, Rhonda Broussard, this month.
Some called for her reinstatement. One called for parent representation on the board. Tasha Buchannon expressed anxiety about continuing in the language immersion charter schools 鈥 the only program of its kind in the city.
鈥淚 feel stuck,鈥 said Buchannon, who was recruited by Broussard to send her daughter to The Chinese School.
The meeting 鈥 held as a public forum 鈥 was the first time parents have addressed the board since June 13, when they received an email from board chairman David Luckes announcing that Broussard would no longer be president. It was Broussard鈥檚 vision in 2006 to bring the language immersion experience to students in 50度灰视频. The first schools, the French and Spanish, are elementary schools that opened in 2009. The Chinese School opened in 2012. They offer instruction almost entirely in the immersion languages.
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鈥淭he three founding heads of school are still here,鈥 Luckes said, sitting at the table with them, offering assurance of stability. 鈥淲e are still committed to the vision, the kids. We are as committed as ever to these schools.鈥
While many parents have said they are amazed by how quickly their children have become fluent in other languages, there has been ongoing concern about finances, operations and enrollment at the French and Chinese schools, where neither has enough children for more than one kindergarten class this fall.
Kevin Dilly, who had two children in The Spanish School this past year, moved to the Lindbergh School District because he felt they were learning at too slow a pace.
Molly Koebbe, with two children The French School, said her school needs to enroll more kindergartners or she fears it might close.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy about the administrative change,鈥 she said, after addressing Luckes about her concerns. 鈥淚 admit it.鈥
Luckes wouldn鈥檛 get into specifics about why Broussard was let go, but did say that there will be a search within months to find a leader who can help the immersion schools enter their next chapter.
鈥淩honda personified the school,鈥 Luckes said. 鈥淭hat said, Rhonda was not the whole school.鈥
The forum was the first of several that the board plans to hold to engage parents and help refine the direction of SLLIS, which enrolls more than 900 students. It also includes The International School 鈥 a middle school that offers International Baccalaureate curriculum.
鈥淭his is about how to have a focus,鈥 said Lydia Chen, head of school for the Chinese and International schools. 鈥淚B is the vision, and the vision shared by Rhonda,鈥 she said, referring to International Baccalaureate. 鈥淎nd it is going to be here.鈥
William Rebore, who works for SLLIS as a consultant, is serving as president until an interim leader is found.