A committee tasked with exploring options for the future of Glenwood Elementary School’s Mandarin Dual Language magnet program presented an update on their work to the Chapel Hill – Carrboro Board of Education last week.

The Mandarin Magnet Implementation Committee is still in its early stages. After being created in December, they held two meetings and gathered input from parents and staff.

Another community and parent input session will be held, but the date is currently still undecided.

Last September, a controversial 4-3 vote by the board of education approved moving forward with a schoolwide mandarin magnet program at Glenwood.

Fourteen members sit on the committee, including Mandarin language teachers and traditional track teachers from Glenwood, the school’s principal and assistant principal, school counselor Bill Rathbun and several administrators. Additionally, Jessica O’Donovan, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the district, said two parents will join the committee soon.

At Thursday’s board meeting, O’Donovan said special attention was paid to make sure there was a balance of opinions on the committee.

“I am hopeful that we have a terrific team that is very diverse in their perspectives, and we tried to assemble that intentionally.”

Melissa Towne, a first grade traditional track teacher at Glenwood and part of the committee, said she thinks the meetings have gone smoothly despite the differing opinions.

“I feel like the reality is not every person is going to get the bucket list of every single thing they want from the plan,” she said. “It’s just not possible. So, I think that’s just one of the struggles of coming up with something like this, but I have enjoyed being part of the team,”

If all goes according to plan, the committee will present again on March 7 with its ideas for Glenwood. On April 18, a draft implementation plan could be presented to the board, and the board will then be able to vote on the plan on May 2.

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