District neglects community input

District leaders failed to include teachers and students in the decision making process regarding their preliminary plans to remove all level four World Language classes and the smallest language program at each school over the course of the five years. Though this decision is not yet finalized and will not affect any students graduating prior to 2027, it has upset World Language teachers and students as FUHSD made this decision behind closed doors, with little to no input from teachers, students or parents. Accounting for the widespread impacts of the policy on those who have been excluded from the decision making process, FUHSD should consistently incorporate more community involvement when finalizing future decisions and reevaluate this controversial and harmful action plan.

The removal of classes will eventually lead to fewer choices for students to fulfill their language requirements for graduation and college. As language classes currently have one of the highest ratios of students per class, the removal of all honors classes is likely to increase the number of students in remaining classes, adding pressure on teachers to accommodate the needs of all their students.

“It’s much harder to teach a class of 40 than 30 students,” Spanish teacher Kim Revilla said. “There’s just more bodies in the room, so you’re navigating around everyone. Grading takes longer, and it’s hard to get to know that many students.”

In the tentative plan, Japanese, Lynbrook’s smallest language program, is posed to be the first course to be phased out within the next five years. All levels of Japanese will be eventually removed, starting with the removal of Japanese 1 from Lynbrook’s course offerings.

“When I first heard about the plan, I was very disappointed and saddened by the fact that it could potentially mean the end to this program I have been working on for the past 17 to 18 years of my life,” Japanese teacher Jeremy Kitchen said. “It has always been out there that this could happen, as we have had meetings hinting that the school might no longer be at a size that can sustain four languages anymore. It’s not a complete surprise, but the reality of it actually coming through is very different from knowing it might happen at some point later on.”

Students who wish to take a Japanese