BY JACKSON CHEN | The Department of Education has selected P.S. 145 on West 105th Street to be the site of a Russian dual-language program that is provisionally in the works. While there’s a location in mind for the program, the agency is still in the midst of an extensive evaluation and planning phase.
“We are incredibly excited to be planning for our first Dual-Language Russian program at P.S. 145 slated to open next school year,” P.S. 145’s principal Natalia Russo said in a written statement. “The school community will benefit from students learning both Russian and English.”
The two moms pushing for the dual-language program, Julia Stoyanovich and Olga Ilyashenko, were upbeat after receiving news that a school had been designated. When P.S. 145 applied to the DOE in June for a planning grant that would help fund the program, Ilyashenko said she was hoping for a decision in September. The school has now been selected for the program, but its fate still depends on meeting other DOE requirements.
In order for a dual-language program to launch, the DOE seeks a balance of Russian-speaking students looking to strengthen their Russian and English proficiency, and students whose first language is English interested in having classes taught in both Russian and English.
As of now, the DOE is in the planning stages to get the program underway, but there is still no guarantee it will be launched for the 2017-18 school year.
Ilyashenko, however, said that Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña had previously assured her that funds have been allocated and that the program would commence at P.S. 145 in fall 2017.
“I took it as an already done deal and we will get the planning grant,” Ilyashenko said. “But as of right now, the information about the planning grant has not been confirmed.”
According to Ilyashenko, the DOE has explained to her two options for moving forward with a program. If P.S. 145 receives the grant from the DOE, the dual-language program would be supported with funding for purchasing materials, writing curriculum, and more. If the school doesn’t receive the grant, P.S. 145 could work on an alternative Russian language program, likely more modest in scale, Ilyashenko said.
The parents will meet with Russo in mid-November to start discussions on planning, Ilyashenko said.
“Hopefully we’ll have a chance to prove our community is very active and supportive and wants to integrate into school life and help in any way possible,” Ilyashenko said. “And then we’ll see what happens.”
The school’s principal has been working closely with the parents pushing for the program, according to the DOE.
“Community input is instrumental during this process, and I look forward to continue having meaningful conversations with families about this new program,” Russo said.
