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Latino families in south Omaha might be reluctant to participate in a new school choice plan next year for fear of a language barrier at a different school across town, a teacher told learning community officials Tuesday.
Because Latinos are highly concentrated in south Omaha, making up nine of 10 students in some schools, families are used to receiving services in their own language, said Juan Carlos Veloso, an elementary Spanish teacher for the Omaha Public Schools.
At a public forum Tuesday on the proposed open-enrollment plan, Veloso asked council members with the learning community of Douglas and Sarpy Counties whether such services would be available at other districts where Latinos are in the minority.
Parents are thinking, “If I go to one of these wonderful schools, will I lose all of this?” he said.
That question and others raised at the forum suggest that the plan aimed at mixing low-income and affluent students still has concerns to resolve. Rick Werkheiser, co-chairman of the learning community’s diversity plan task force, said it’s up to the school districts to meet the needs of students.
“I know our schools will do their very best to provide those services, but that support may not be there right away on Day One,” Werkheiser said.
Under open enrollment, students will be allowed to apply to any public school in Douglas or Sarpy County. If there’s room, first priority would go to siblings of current students and then those who help achieve state targets for socioeconomic diversity.
The learning community council held two forums Tuesday night at the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
The second focused on the council’s plan to set up elementary learning centers in northeast and southeast Omaha aimed at boosting achievement for low-income students.
About 50 people attended.
Open enrollment drew the most questions, including how applications would be prioritized, how the council would enforce the diversity plan and what parents should do if they think a district unfairly denied their application.
Werkheiser said that if parents thought they were treated unfairly, they would have to take their concerns to the individual district. The council lacks the power to make sure districts follow the rules.
Contact the writer:
444-1077, joe.dejka@owh.com
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