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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, December 26, 2013 | 16 HFFINS officially asks for English advisory committee by Bob Mitchell Special to the Beaver A growing group of concerned Halton parents want the public education board to set up an English advisory committee. Members of Halton Families For Inclusive Neighbourhood Schools (HFFINS) feel the Halton District a Public School Board (HDSB) has been ignoring English track students while doing everything possible to ensure French studies are entrenched in the school curriculum. "The board promotes French studies very well, but has also given the impression (to many parents) French studies provide students with an enhanced and better academic outcome," said Joanna Oliver, a group member. "But that's not right. "We see the value in French studies. We want English studies to provide the same excellence. An advisory committee would be one way to ensure a balanced view is provided so the educational needs of all students are taken care of." The group formally made its request to Education Director Dave Euale Dec. 18, but a trustee would have to present a motion at a future board meeting before Euale could consider it. "Given the continued promotion of the FSL programs (in particular French Immersion) by HDSB and by the lobby group, Canadian Parents for French, we request that similar attention and promotion be dedicated to the English Track," the group stated in its official request. "The proposed English Advisory Committee would assist the HDSB in achieving this goal." The group believes such a committee would represent the interests of English-language students as thoroughly as the board currently does for French studies, Oliver said. "There has been a French advisory committee in place for a number of years. Its job is to advise on how the program is delivered. So why isn't there an English advisory committee? There has to be a balance and an equal voice. "We have promoted the introduction of French as a core subject before Grade 4 and are very happy the Board has increased the number of schools that it will be running in. We've been very supportive of French Immersion and we feel having it available at more dual track schools is the fair and reasonable way to address this. "That way more children will have access to it and both programs will be run in a viable way. "One thing that needs to happen for that to occur is that the French and English boundaries need to be equal. By making the French boundary larger it makes it look like nobody is signing up for English. We believe there also has to be some kind of a cap per school so that both English and French programs can run simultaneously and if the cap is exceeded then those kids can be offered enrolment in another school." Although French remains an optional subject under the provincial education mandate, the board recently concluded an extensive look into French studies, resulting in a series of approved Given the continued promotion of the FSL programs (in particular French Immersion) by HDSB and by the lobby group, Canadian Parents for French, we request that similar attention and promotion be dedicated to the English track. Halton Families for Inclusive Neighbourhood Schools recommendations that will see French taught as a core subject in 24 Halton schools next September. French as a subject has been taught beginning in Grade 4 in all Halton public schools. French Immersion will also continue to be offered in Grade 1 with a possibility of a second entry point in Grade 5 down the road. English track students entering Grade 1 could be sent to another school or taught in combined Grades 1-2-3 classes if there aren't enough students for a full class. Schools won't be automatically converted to French Immersion if English-only enrolment decreases. Instead, three options will be considered if there are 23 or fewer students enrolled. Schools could blend Grades 1 and 2, or triple grading Grades 1-2-3. A last resort is to redirect Grade 1 students to a neighbouring school. "Parents frankly are freaking out," Oliver said. "Because there is no cap in the program for French and there exists a recommendation that if there aren't enough students signing up for English that it will be taken out, parents are opting for that the program out of fear. They want their kids to go to their neighbourhood school so they might as well enroll them in FI." The group recognizes the board policy of striving to provide high quality education for all students in French studies, but HFFINS wants a similar policy for English-language studies, which an advisory committee would ensure. "An English Advisory Committee, much like the French Advisory Committee or the Special Education Advisory Committee, would be designed to look out for the best interests of the students in the English track," the group said. HFFINS envisages the committee reporting to trustees annually or as required, monitoring and supporting improvements in English programming and liaising with community groups. HFFINS hopes the committee would consist of four trustees, one from each geographic area and selected by the chair. There would also be 12 parents, three per geographic area and four to six teachers (of all divisions and geographic areas with experience in single and dual track English and expertise in math, music, literature. As well, the committee would include a school principal, a superintendent, an associate director of education and two members at large. At least four meetings would be held throughout the school year with minutes recorded and posted on the board's website. 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