After founder’s ouster, parents and board meet about St. Louis Language Immersion Schools

After founder’s ouster, parents and board meet about St. Louis Language Immersion Schools

June 24, 2015 10:00 pm • By Elisa Crouch0
Parents, students protest ouster of founder from St. Louis Language Immersion Schools

About 25 parents and students held signs expressing support for Rhonda Broussard Read more

Founder dropped as leader of St. Louis Language Immersion Schools

Decision to replace Rhonda Broussard surprises parents, staff. Read more
ST. LOUIS • About 50 parents with children in the St. Louis Language Immersion Schools faced the School Board chairman Wednesday and expressed a range of concerns following the seemingly abrupt ouster of founder and president, Rhonda Broussard, this month.

Some called for her reinstatement. One called for parent representation on the board. Tasha Buchannon expressed anxiety about continuing in the language immersion charter schools — the only program of its kind in the city.

“I feel stuck,” said Buchannon, who was recruited by Broussard to send her daughter to The Chinese School.

The meeting — held as a public forum — was the first time parents have addressed the board since June 13, when they received an email from board chairman David Luckes announcing that Broussard would no longer be president. It was Broussard’s vision in 2006 to bring the language immersion experience to students in St. Louis. The first schools, the French and Spanish, are elementary schools that opened in 2009. The Chinese School opened in 2012. They offer instruction almost entirely in the immersion languages.

Please read more here.