The proposed school budget calls for the reduction of 10 teaching positions, including a Portuguese language teacher at the high school.
LUDLOW — Foreign language teachers at Tuesday’s School Committee meeting proposed adding Portuguese language instruction at Baird Middle School.
School Committee members said they support the idea.
“I love the idea of Portuguese at the middle school if we are able to maintain it at the high school,” School Committee member James P. Harrington said.
School Committee members at the direction of selectmen presented a proposed fiscal 2013 school budget that is $579,013 smaller than this year’s budget.
The proposed budget calls for the reduction of 10 teaching positions, including a Portuguese language teacher at the high school.
Many students in Ludlow are of Portuguese descent, and parents said the students should have the chance to learn about their culture.
Teachers said that Spanish is offered at the middle school, and if students are to get to the most advanced level of Portuguese in high school, they need to begin learning the language in middle school.
School Committee members said there is a chance that a grant may be received to help fund Advanced Placement language courses at the high school, which means that more funds could be freed up to offer Portuguese at the middle school.
School Committee member Jacob Oliveira said he would like to see foreign languages begun in kindergarten and first grade in order for students to become truly proficient.
Interim School Superintendent Donna Hogan asked that a curriculum committee survey nearby communities to see how many foreign languages are being offered.
The School Committee has received a 156-signature petition from high school students opposing the proposed cut of a Portuguese language teacher at the high school.
School Committee members say they are lobbying selectmen and the Finance Committee to see what funds can be added back to the School Department budget.
The annual Town Meeting at which voters will approve a budget for next year has been continued until June 18.
School officials said they hope to have support from the Finance Committee by June 18 for increasing the allocation for next year’s school budget.