TWIN FALLS - Members of the Idaho State Board of Education's subcommittee focusing on limited English proficient students is set to hold its first meeting Thursday, February 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The meeting will be held at the College of Southern Idaho, Taylor Building, Room 258, in Twin Falls.
The State Board of Education created the subcommittee in December 2003, to identify strategies that will eliminate educational performance gaps for Idaho's minority students. At Thursday's meeting, members will review the committee's scope of work, evaluate Idaho and national LEP statistics, and develop a time line for action.
State Board members of the committee are: President Blake Hall, Secretary Rod Lewis, Paul Agidius and Superintendent Marilyn Howard. Citizen committee members include:
· Delia Valdez, principal of Mountain View Elementary School in Burley;
· Linda Christensen, Limited English Proficiency Director for Meridian School District;
· Rogelio Valdez, Idaho Director of Disability and Determinations;
· Don Pena, Director of Education, Employment and Training for the Idaho Migrant Council;
· Ted and Josie Garcia, owners of Angela's Restaurant in Rupert;
· Irene Chavolla, State Department of Education migrant coordinator;
· Dianne Allen, former education coordinator for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe; and
· Representative Elmer Martinez from Pocatello.
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