Caldwell Elementary has been home to PFISD’s first Dual Language program for more than 20 years and served as the model for the Dual Language programs that followed throughout the district.

PFISD is now moving to dissolve Caldwell’s established Dual Language program and move it to Timmerman Elementary.

This decision was not clearly presented to the community. In the September 8 task force materials, Maps 5, 6A, and 7 continued to identify Caldwell as a bilingual campus. Map 6B stated that Timmerman would become bilingual, but never stated that Caldwell would lose its program. Map 6B was also never voted on.

By the September 22 meeting, Caldwell had been removed from the bilingual campus count, and the change was presented without meaningful discussion or a task force vote.

Most concerning, the Caldwell community was not informed of the decision until Monday, September 28; just one day before the September 29 rezoning meeting.

Timmerman is an Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) campus, a PFISD program designed to provide intentional staffing and comprehensive academic, social, and emotional support based on the unique needs of its students. Timmerman has also experienced significant leadership turnover, with five principals in five years. Adding the immense task of establishing a Dual Language program from scratch would create another major challenge for a campus already focused on strengthening its existing systems and supports.

Meanwhile, Caldwell already has an established, successful Dual Language program that has been part of the campus for more than two decades. The program represents roughly half of the campus and has played a foundational role in the development of Dual Language education across PFISD.

We are calling on PFISD to keep Caldwell Elementary’s Dual Language program intact and not dissolve or relocate it to Timmerman Elementary.

Caldwell’s Dual Language program has served our community for over 20 years. It belongs at Caldwell.

Somos Caldwell. Somos Dual Language.