Schools restore bilingual position
Part-time Chinese facilitator had been cut from budget
Anne Arundel County Public Schools has reinstated a part-time bilingual facilitator for Chinese-speaking families, after concerned parents spoke out against the position being targeted for a cut.
Parents last month said they were surprised to learn the position was being eliminated.
At a recent school board meeting, parents said the facilitator served as an important bridge between families and the school system, helping them to translate information, showing them how to access resources and building a sense of community among Chinese families throughout the county.
School system spokesman Bob Mosier said Wednesday the position had been reinstated. The person who held the position last year will return to work Monday.
Mosier said school officials met with parents this week and had a discussion that focused on translation as well as the cultural needs of the community.
When raising concerns about the loss of the position, some parents said because they were educated in China, they weren’t familiar with the American education system. That’s one of the reasons the position was important, they said.
And that’s one of the cultural needs that was considered when officials decided to reinstate the facilitator, Mosier said.
“We’re trying to be responsive to the needs of our communities,” he said.
At the September board meeting, parents including Severna Park resident Jirun Zhang spoke out against the cut.
Zhang said as a result of having a facilitator, “more and more Chinese families are willing to participate in more school activities, and can help our children with their academic success.”
Zhang said at the meeting that Chinese families are entitled to the same services other international families receive, and said cutting the facilitator position would “not make any sense.”
Mosier had said there was no cut to See FACILITATOR, page 6
Parents last month said they were surprised to learn the position was being eliminated.
At a recent school board meeting, parents said the facilitator served as an important bridge between families and the school system, helping them to translate information, showing them how to access resources and building a sense of community among Chinese families throughout the county.
School system spokesman Bob Mosier said Wednesday the position had been reinstated. The person who held the position last year will return to work Monday.
Mosier said school officials met with parents this week and had a discussion that focused on translation as well as the cultural needs of the community.
When raising concerns about the loss of the position, some parents said because they were educated in China, they weren’t familiar with the American education system. That’s one of the reasons the position was important, they said.
And that’s one of the cultural needs that was considered when officials decided to reinstate the facilitator, Mosier said.
“We’re trying to be responsive to the needs of our communities,” he said.
At the September board meeting, parents including Severna Park resident Jirun Zhang spoke out against the cut.
Zhang said as a result of having a facilitator, “more and more Chinese families are willing to participate in more school activities, and can help our children with their academic success.”
Zhang said at the meeting that Chinese families are entitled to the same services other international families receive, and said cutting the facilitator position would “not make any sense.”
Mosier had said there was no cut to See FACILITATOR, page 6
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