Three mothers of students at Nordstrom Elementary School expressed their concerns Jan. 23 about the district holding adult education classes on campus during school hours. District staff say the program is partly intended to encourage more parent involvement in their children’s education.
Jill Provencal, Emily Bennett and Patricia Nudi were alarmed after receiving a Jan. 12 flyer sent out to Nordstrom parents about the start of English As Second Language classes to be held from 8:30 to 10:30am two times per week at their children’s school.
“I am not in support of having adult ed classes on campus during school hours,” said Provencal, who has two daughters attending Nordstrom. “My concern is not the type of class or the students taking the classes. It’s about the time of day these classes are offered on campus and the precedent this sets for future classes.”
District staff confirmed that ESL classes are available to parents of students at Nordstrom. They also offer ESL and additional courses in technology and “family first” at two other elementary sites (San Martin/Gwinn and P.A. Walsh Elementary Schools) for parents of students attending those schools.
“We will continue to offer these classes. Parent involvement at school greatly increases children’s academic success,” said district communications coordinator Kimberly Beare. “By offering these classes to our parents, we are not only helping them with their English skills, but we are also helping them to feel more comfortable volunteering in classes.”
Provencal, who spoke with Supt. Steve Betando and other staff about the issue prior to coming to the Jan. 23 meeting, questioned why the adult classes had to be held at the elementary site while school was in session.
Beare explained that the classes were originally in the evening only but the district “began offering ESL classes to parents during the day because of the overwhelming number of requests we received to do so.” All participants must be fingerprinted before being allowed to attend the day classes, according to Beare.
“These classes are not open to the general public and are just one way that MHUSD is looking to increase parent involved in their children’s education,” Beare said. “Enough can not be said about how much a child’s academic success is linked to parent involvement.”
Morgan Hill has a Community Adult School, located at 17960 Monterey Road, where English As Second Language classes are offered. More than 130 adults attend classes there each year to improve their English-language skill, according to the adult school website.
“The convenience of being able to drop off their children at school then going straight to their own class has helped us to increase participation in these classes,” Beare said.
However, Provencal worried that the district is “creating additional opportunities and loopholes for grooming and horrific situations to happen” by allowing adults on campus at the same time as children.
“Adding more adults to Nordstrom during the day is an unnecessary risk, especially when you have alternative locations,” she added.
She was not alone in her concerns at the Jan. 23 meeting.
Bennett, a parent of one child at Nordstrom, also spoke up about the potential risks of allowing adults access to the campus during school hours.
“It would become normal for there to be adults on campus and easier for predators to blend in, and I don’t want us to realize too late,” Bennett said.
Nudi added she researched the restrictions for allowing adults on the same campus as children with the California Department of Education and learned, while permissible, adults must be kept in a designated fenced-in area away from the younger students.
“There aren’t any fences that separate the adults from the children (at Nordstrom),” Nudi said.
On the “Morgan Hill Community Group” Facebook Page, a place where community members post and discuss local issues and events, more residents chimed in about the situation at Nordstrom.
“I don’t have a problem with classes being held at night, but our children’s safety is at stake,” posted Brooke Hannagan. “Just because they are parents of other students attending these classes doesn’t mean they are good people.”
At Nordstrom, there are about half dozen participants. At SM/G, there are up to 30 parents who take advantage of the classes, which take place in their own space on campus, according to Beare.
Briana Carlson Monaco posted her support for the district’s ESL adult program.
“I for one am pretty happy that the district is making this available, especially the English classes. We have these classes on our campus, and it is parents of our kids that take them. Not all are fingerprinted and it’s a non issue,” Carlson Monaco posted.
