On August 16, 2006, 65 members of the Oregon community and teaching staff met to discuss the implications of adding Foreign Language instruction at the elementary level.  A process called the Implication Wheel was used which put groups of five people together in a team to analyze one question each.  The purpose of this process was to try to identify issues that could arise from making this decision.  The group was given the following attached information prior to this event:

1)      Why should the Oregon School District have a World Language program and why now?

2)      Information from the Center for Applied Linguistics

3)      Teaching World Languages at the Elementary Level (Report from the Menasha School District)

4)      Most Widely Spoken Languages in the World

The teams analyzed 14 different significant implications, and then scored each implication for likelihood of occurring and desirability.

The original steering committee met to analyze the results of the work session.  Based on this information, we are moving forward with the following premise – World Languages needs to be started at the Elementary level.  Several factors need to be addressed prior to this decision being finalized.  We decided to begin by identifying the major issues first.

Two major implications were identified as highly important and highly likely to have a negative impact if not addressed well.  The steering committee identified specific questions to be addressed and the make up of each Task Force Committee.

Teaching Languages at the Elementary Level

• Should we offer a different language in each elementary school or focus on one language?
• What languages should be offered?  Are there certified teachers available?
• Review the policy that allows for school choice?  If more than one language is offered will parents be allowed to choose a school based on the language offered? 

Membership on this committee

• Community Members
• Parents
• Foreign Language Teachers
• Expert from Menasha
• Facilitator – Jan Bonsett-Veal

Schedule

• Should foreign language be integrated with other subject areas?
• How many minutes and days per grade level?
• How would it fit in the current school day or is there a need to add minutes?
• Cost impact

Membership on this committee

• Elementary principals, RCI principal
• 2 teachers per building (one core, one encore)
• Todd Bresser (district scheduler)
• Facilitator – Jane Peschel

Each Task Force should meet before December to analyze the questions and propose recommendations.  This allows time for School Board input as well as financial analysis prior to the 2007-08 budget cycles.

Along with the two major issues, there was a third that the steering committee should be responsible for and that issue is one of communication.  Both the teaching staff and the community have a strong desire to know what is going on.  To that end, we will maintain a link through the Oregon website which will include supporting documents, minutes, and reports.