Barrington School Board Debates Fall Chinese Delegation Trip

The Barrington 220 school board Tuesday debated the costs and justification for a 10-day Chinese delegation trip planned this fall. 

The delegation is meant to enhance the district’s Chinese language program, and will include a mix of five administrators and teachers, and one school board member.

The cost per person will be $900 and can be covered by staff development dollars already allocated in the budget.

“It is typical that these types of things are paid through staff development, and for each teacher and administrator, that would be their one conference for the year,” Leonard said.

Leonard said there will be minimal additional costs for administrative personnel, due to other administrators covering their job responsibilities while they’re gone.

There was lengthy discussion over whether the cost for Sandra Ficke-Bradford, the sole board member going on the trip, should be covered by district funds.

“I think staff development dollars should pay for administrators, but I believe board members should pay for themselves,” said board member Penny Kazmier.

“I’d rather see the money spent on administrators. I’d be willing to chip in to help pay for Sandra’s cost,” said board member Joe Ruffolo.

One board member said the trip wasn’t a good idea at all.

“With the human rights abuses going on in China, I don’t think we should take taxpayer dollars and support those types of abuses by traveling there,” said board member Richard Burkhart.

“There are two ways to look at it; the other would be that the trip could bring more democratic thought to people whom our representatives encounter while there,” said board member Tim Hull.

Burkhart remained unconvinced.

“I think for the small amount of children who are exposed to this program, it isn’t worthwhile; it’s a lobbying trip,” Burkhart said.

A majority of the board disagreed, and plans will move forward to have costs for administrator and teachers, who have yet to be named, covered by staff development funds.

It was also the consensus of the board that the trip cost for Ficke-Bradford not be covered by the district.

The Chinese delegation is meant to serve as an enhancement to the Chinese language program, which Barrington 220 has offered for the last three years for children in sixth through 12th grades.

This school year, the Chinese language will be extended to include the elementary schools.

There will be 100 elementary children enrolled in Chinese starting in the fall, and a projected 50 more each of the following years, according to Leonard.  

“The delegation will be traveling with representatives from other U.S. school districts and there will be sharing in how they are conducting their programs,” said Leonard.

Leonard added that the delegation also will be able to visit a number of schools in China and speak with educators there as a way to enhance the program offerings.

“Learning the Chinese language is becoming something a lot of people are moving towards,” said Leonard.  “It will be significant in the way of staff development and experience.”