Westgate School students, parents fight to keep Spanish program

Parents are ramping up their fight to keep a popular Spanish bilingual program from relocating from Westgate School in Calgary's southwest.

The program is so popular that the Calgary Board of Educationwants to move it south to the Eugene Coste School.

About 50 parents and studentswent to the board's head office today to hand over a petition and air their concerns about moving their beloved Spanish program.

Parents and educators say they feel they are being punished for having a successful program.

"I've actually been studying Spanishon my own for the last three years to try and assist with my kids and learn as they go,"said JenniferYeremiy.

She is concerned that students will no longer be able to attend if it is moved because of long commutes.

"My younger one is in kindergarten," she said. "He's going to be there for two hours and be on the bus for more than two hours."

She says she already has a child commuting from Cougar Ridge on the west side where no local public school exists.

But the CBE points to the fact there are space issues across the city and the division keeps growing with more children every year.

The board is now looking into the appeal launched by the parents.