Mandarin Immersion Parents Council

The Lafayette Parish School Board voted on Wednesday to shutter the Chinese immersion program at Cpl. Michael Middlebrook Elementary School, bringing the language program to an end after 14 years. The board voted 4-3 to close the program, which will cease operation at the end of this school year.

Middlebrook Elementary saw a decrease in 114 students this year, likely linked to the closing of the program.

Please read more here.

Another article notes:

“the decision to discontinue the Chinese Immersion Program at Corporal Michael Middlebrook Elementary School was also met with concern by parents.

Melissa Hardy’s son attends Middlebrook and she says she is now considering other options for her son’s education, “What we really want is the time to communicate with the board and find out what they need. We’re willing to help. We want to help the program grow but we feel like we haven’t gotten the opportunity nor have we gotten the communication to know why we can’t do so.”

Hardy joined several other parents who spoke at Wednesday night’s school board meeting asking the board to reconsider its decision stating the program.

LPSS said in a recent statement, closing the Chinese Immersion Program at Middlebrook will yield $510, 304 in savings. LPSS says.

Please read more here.