ESL issues resolved by split vote

Members of the Cameron County Area Board of Education settled a controversy over staffing to meet state requirements for "English as a second language" (ESL) instruction after a lengthy debate at this month's meeting.

The State Education Department requires districts to provide ESL help for students lacking in comprehension and articulation of the English language.

Board members Annetta Horning and Bill Bogart supported the hiring of one fulltime teacher, ESL-certified and already working on an interim basis, and one part-time teacher for the gifted students program.

However, a majority of five directors instead supported the hiring of two-part time teachers, with interim part-timers filling in until interviews are conducted. A ninth board member, Paul Malizia, abstained for personal reasons.

Horning argued that the district should put the students' best interests ahead of economics. She questioned whether the part-time teachers would be as qualified as a full-timer.

Carol Caldwell, the mother of a gifted student, thanked the school board for not eliminating the program.

In other business, the board:

--accepted the resignation of Pat Lewis as girls' golf coach, effective at the completion of the current season.

--granted a request by students Amie Terwiliger and Autumn Whitehead to conduct an American Red Cross blood drive on Nov. 8, from 7 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., in the high school gym.