English-Only Initiative Shunned by Trustees
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Fearing the “English for the Children” ballot initiative will undermine its own English-only policies, the Orange Unified School District trustees balked this week at passing a resolution in support of the measure.
The trustees, who created a national controversy last year by eliminating bilingual education for the district’s 29,000 students, voted 5-2 to table a resolution in support of Proposition 227. Trustees Martin Jacobson and Kathy Ward cast the opposing votes.
The district is not alone with its questions about the initiative. About 20 districts statewide have opposed the proposition, which goes to the polls June 2.
“We feel this would undermine all the efforts this board has made,” Supt. Robert L. French said.
French said the initiative’s vague wording might force Orange Unified to provide bilingual education.
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