DES PLAINES—The school board of Des Plaines Elementary District 62 voted 4-2 Monday night to approve an optional dual-language program for children entering kindergarten at Orchard Place Elementary School in the fall.
The proposal was not without opposition.
“We don’t have our act together teaching the first language,” said board member Kevin Shyne, who along with Jean Warren voted against the measure. “To go into a second language is getting ahead of ourselves. Dual language is not the only way to develop superior second-language skills.”
However, board President Paul Piszkiewicz said, “This proposal keeps in line with a custom education. We’re offering options for pupils.”
Orchard Place Principal Joy Kadlecik said she will start recruiting 24 children for the optional program.
While parents districtwide can seek to enroll their children in the class, which will consist of half English-speaking, half Spanish-speaking children, Kadlecik said Orchard Place pupils would be given a priority.
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