Parents won't say adios to Spanish school

Parents are fighting the potential closure of an Edmonton school with the city's only bilingual Spanish program.

Mill Creek and Ritchie are on the list of schools under review by the public school board due to low enrolment levels.

On Thursday night, the board held a public meeting on the possible closure of the schools.

Parents told CBC News the program is an important part of their community, as well as an important part of some families' heritage.

"At home we don't speak Spanish that much," said Rafael Gaovez, a native Spanish speaker. "My wife is from Poland so literally we speak English. If they don't come practise over here, they will lose everything their heritage."

Spanish bilingual classes started at Mill Creek, an elementary school, six years ago. Close to 130 students from kindergarten to Grade6 study Spanish now.

Parents were told the program would continue at Ritchie,a nearby junior high school that shares the same principal.

But now the school board says neither schoolhas enough students. That means the Spanish program could be moved or the schools could eventually be closed down.

Bernadette DeSantis has three children atMill Creek.

"We're concerned that they will pull the Spanish program out of Mill Creek and Ritchie. And if they do that, that our schools will almost assuredly face closure," she said.

Recommendations going toboard

The public school board picked the schools based on criteria such as enrolment levels, neighbourhood demographics, use of space and how many other schools were nearby.

Under review are: Coronation, Grovenor, High Park, Lendrum, Montrose, Mount Royal, Newton, Mount Pleasant and Mill Creek/Ritchie.

"The question with Mill Creek/Ritchie is how can we make the Spanish program strong, but also how can we ensure we're using our buildings appropriately?" said Jenise Bidulock, a spokeswoman for the Edmonton Public School Board.

Closures aren't the only option, she added.

"It could be anything from boundary changes, to program changes, to moving grades from one place to another, to look at taking programs out or putting programs in."

Recommendations on all the schools will be made to the school board in January.