MANTECA—Emotional pleas in support of the school district’s bilingual education program punctuated Tuesday’s board of trustees meeting, a day after some Sierra High students staged a walkout and cross-town protest.

About 30 students protesting impending layoffs of 23 bilingual aides and cancelation of English as a second language classes were suspended for three days when they returned to campus.

“I applaud the students who took to the streets to protest,” said Marcos Contreras, a education consultant who moved to Manteca because he was impressed with the quality of education here. “I think peaceful demonstrators should not be penalized for bringing to your attention what they perceive as an injustice.”

Several students, some speaking through interpreters, pleaded with trustees to reconsider their Jan. 10 decision to lay off the bilingual aides. Other students said they were proud to have participated in Monday’s protest.

“I think it was worth it and I will do it again, even if it means I would get suspended again,” David Castro said.

Trustees, under the gun to cut $2.2 million over the next three years, decided on a split vote three weeks ago to lay off the bilingual aides next year. But the trustees also said they will try to find the funds to keep the aides.

There are 46 Sierra students classified as having limited English skills. Of those, 35 were enrolled in an English as a second language class, and now attend regular English classes with bilingual aides. About a half-dozen speak no English, Sierra Principal Rick Arucan said.

As for canceling the English as a second language courses in Manteca’s three high schools, that was mandated by new state requirements. They prohibit using adult education funds for daytime programs, as the district has done for many years.

That knowledge doesn’t help hundreds of students with limited English skills, many parents told trustees Tuesday.

Maria Dolores Basalto, speaking through an interpreter, equated the cuts to discrimination and said her children need to learn English to cope in today’s society.

Student Susana Tafoya said students will turn to gangs and drugs if they fail in school because of the cuts.

” (Suspended students) believe in something and did what they think is right,” said Glorianna Rhodes. Her daughter, who is Anglo, was suspended for marching in support of her friends.

Most of the 30 Sierra High School students suspended Monday have no history as troublemakers, Arucan said. In fact, some were straight-A students; only a couple had been seen for disciplinary reasons and all were just trying to make a point, he said.

The students chanted “ESL, bring it back,” as they marched from Sierra to Manteca High School, then to East Union High School, a distance of five miles. Most then boarded a bus which had followed the group, rode back to Sierra and were suspended for two days.

“These were not kids just walking out for the sake of getting out of class,” said Arucan, who also followed the procession in his car.



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