Evanston/Skokie School District 65 could enhance its kindergarten bilingual program if a federal grant proposal is approved.
The two-way, dual-language immersion program at Orrington and Washington elementary schools currently receives $87,574 — 75 percent to 85 percent of its funding — from the district.
The rest of the money for the students, who have limited English proficiency comes from the state.
The three-year grant could range from $100,000 to $175,000 and would enable the district to expand the program. The grant is designed specifically for school districts implementing or developing dual-language programs.
This type of program is designed to help Spanish- and English-speaking students become fluent in both languages.
The federal money will help enhance student achievement, increase parent involvement and provide critical professional development opportunities that “we desperately need,” said Lyda Enriquez, District 65’s curriculum coordinator for Bilingual Education/Education as a Second Language.
“We feel we have a strong chance to win an award,” said Enriquez, who asked for approval at the school board’s Oct. 3 meeting to submit the grant proposal.
The district applied last year for a grant to fund the immersion program and almost received one, Enriquez said.
Board member Betsy Sagan, who worked with Enriquez on the grant proposal, said it was much more focused than last year’s.
Board members Greg Klaiber and Mary Erickson said the board probably would still fund the program for the 2001-02 school year if the grant is not approved. But they both said they hope the federal funds will be available to enhance the program.
Orrington currently has 21 students in the program; Washington has 24.
The proposal will be submitted by Oct. 20 and reviewed by the Department of Education on Dec. 19. The awards will be announced by the end of the year. A final draft of the proposal will be submitted to the school board on Oct. 16, Enriquez said.
At the meeting, the board also discussed replacing all district administrative computer operations, which are 12 years old.
The district’s Technology Referendum Committee recommended the purchase of new hardware and software at a cost of about $150,000.
The cost includes a new mini-mainframe AS 400 Model 720 Server and an Ethernet connection for personal computers that will give administrators e-mail and Internet access.
The new server will allow district administrators to run programs much faster. For example, running the payroll would take 15 minutes instead of two to three hours.
John Scarsi, the district’s coordinator of computer services, said the new system should last for five years, but can still be used for as many as seven to 10 years.
Scarsi said the eventual goal is to provide teachers with e-mail access. The new server will affect only administrative workstations at schools and at the central office.
The board will hold a policy committee meeting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at 1314 Ridge Ave. to discuss whether the Boy Scouts of America should be allowed to meet in district schools.
The committee will review its policies on discrimination and non-school use of school facilities.
