U-46 board candidates on increasing Hispanic parent involvement

As an influx of Hispanic residents has fueled recent growth in the Northwest suburbs, area school districts have seen their student populations change.

According to 2008 state report cards, Elgin Area School District U-46's percentage of Hispanic students stands at roughly 17,000, or 42 percent, a number that has risen steadily for the past two decades.

In a recent round-table discussion, school board incumbents Joyce Fountain, Donna Smith and Dale Spencer joined challengers Gary Percy and Kevin Echevarria to discuss how to increase parental involvement in one of U-46's largest student populations.

"Sometimes, Hispanic parents, whether legal or not, come to this country not knowing how to write or read their own language, let alone English," said Echevarria, a 2005 graduate of Elgin High School. "They see their child, and feel like they can't help them in school."

He suggested finding ways to get past the language barrier by working with municipalities, volunteer and church groups to "provide services that help the parents transition themselves to English."

Smith, a member of the U-46 board since 2001, said she believes a number of district schools have succeeded in engaging Hispanic parents in their community.

"I think other schools and the district can learn from them," the Hanover Park resident said.

Spencer, of Bartlett, built off Smith's thoughts, adding that "some principals in the community need to look at those models of (successful schools)."

"There is definitely a big gap between some schools and others," said Spencer, a board member since 2005.

Spencer also believes Superintendent Jose Torres can play a role.

"I think it's going to take some time, because people are getting used to his type of open leadership," he said. "But it's going to welcome a lot of people."

Both Percy and Fountain stressed that parental involvement from all community sectors can be challenging.

"I've been to meetings where six people show up and four are board members," Percy, of Elgin, said. "There's no magic answer but to keep trying and trying to get the parents involved. Whether they're Hispanic, African-American, Laotian, whatever."

Fountain, of Elgin, who has served on the board since 1993, added, "parental engagement in the general sense is a very large problem."

"Families are our first teachers," she added. "We need partnerships between them, churches, the district and some of the advisory groups to try to engage and bring them in. The reality of our educational system is being asked in some cases to do everything. It's just an awesome task. We can't do it in isolation."

Challenger Ed Stade did not attend the session.

Three candidates will be elected to four-year terms in the April 7 election.