Within the Lake Forest community, there is a broad range of opinions as to the future direction of our elementary education system. There is no debate relative to the fact that (1) the Mandarin program has been successful for the 159 participating students and (2) due to declining enrollment, there have been unintended consequences for students not in the program. We must provide the best solution for all of our children.

There is consensus that we should have full, open, and transparent discourse relative to community solutions. By failing to notify the public of its agenda and special meeting on February 25, the District 67 Board of Education failed to provide the community an opportunity to comment on the decision to eliminate the Mandarin Immersion option for incoming kindergartners for the 2014-2015 academic year. If we allow such action to go unchecked, we unfairly penalize future kindergarten classes and fail as a community.

Our children have a wide variety of educational needs and desires. We need to preserve and protect the freedom of choice to ensure each and every child can prosper. Eliminating the Mandarin option for next year's kindergartners threatens the health of the Mandarin Immersion Program. To protect this popular choice, please sign this petition to request the Board revisit its decision, either at a Special Meeting or at its next regularly scheduled board meeting.