FARMINGTON — Federal education officials are investigating a complaint by a former teacher at Farmington School District over its English as a second language course.
The complaint to the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights claims the district did not give the teacher enough class time with students or enough materials. The complaint also claims the teacher received additional translation duties.
"My first semester with the district went well, until they figured out that I could speak Spanish," the teacher wrote in the complaint, obtained by the Northwest Arkansas Times through a Freedom of Information Act request. "When school started again, I was pulled away from the classes with the (limited English proficient students) in order to translate and interpret for every person and every school."
Superintendent Ron Wright said the instructor was asked to translate for the occasional Spanish-speaking visitors the school offices received. Wright said the teacher didn't like doing that, but was the best staff member to do the translations.
"It wasn't like it happened every day or every week," he said. "I think it was very infrequent."
Federal officials continue to investigate the complaint, filed Nov. 15. Wright said he has been told the office is still in the process of making its final report.
Wright said he is willing to make any recommended changes after he has a chance to review the findings. If there are recommendations to hire new staff, he said the district could start advertising for the positions.
"I'm hoping we get it before the end of school," Wright said.
He said the district wasn't told by the office to make any immediate changes before the final report is issued.
There are 43 students in the ESL program this year, including four high school students.
For more information see Monday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.