MASSENA -- Massena Central School will discuss the best way to address an influx of elementary students whose primary language is not English at the Sept. 21 Board of Education meeting.

This year, Massena Central School District has had an increase of students at the elementary level whose spoken language at home is not English.

Using the services of an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher from Lisbon, the students were administered an exam to assess their English language skills.

Three students qualified for services at the kindergarten and first grade levels. These students speak Hindi, Punjabi and Chinese.

NYS Commissioner’s Regulations 154.2 requires that ESL services be provided by a certified ESL teacher. Given that Massena does not employ an ESL teacher, the district initially considered the option of tuitioning these students to either Potsdam or Lisbon, the only two St. Lawrence County schools with an ESL teacher. However, Potsdam does not have openings in their program at this time and Lisbon is a lengthy bus ride for these early primary students.

Subsequently, Director of Curriculum Stephanie Allen secured the services of a part-time ESL teacher who resides in Canton.

The support will involve both in-district and distance learning by this instructor.

One of the district’s current foreign language teachers will also provide instruction on days when the ESL teacher cannot be available for services.