Students Rally to Save Sign Language Classes

Ward Melville's American Sign Language program is on the list of potential cuts as the district develops its 2012-13 school budget, but at Tuesday's board meeting, students spoke out in hopes of preserving the program.

"It’s as important as any other language Ward Melville offers," said Stephanie Albanese, who said that the American Sign Language (ASL) classes have changed her life.

Signing some of her message as she spoke, Albanese said, "It bridges the gap between the hearing and deaf communities. ... ASL allows me to be part of my class."

Just as other students lobbied over the past few weeks to as a class rather than converting it to a club, students passionate about the ASL program said it is so popular that they have often had trouble just getting into the classes because they are in such high demand.

According to budget documents published on the district's website, cutting the ASL program would eliminate 2.8 teaching positions under a plan that would increase the tax levy by 3 percent. Even if the tax levy was increased by 4.5 percent, the ASL program would still be eliminated and 2.2 teaching positions would be cut.

Student Danielle Taravinio presented a petition with 136 signatures from students who want to keep the program in place.

Another student, Jessica Murray, said the class teaches more than just a language. She said students learn about technology such as cochlear implants as well as how to sing songs using ASL. "I don’t understand why we should drop this when there are so many people who really want to learn this language," she said.

Janet Sorrentino, a parent who worked as a sign language interpreter for 15 years, said there is a demand in society for those who know ASL. "It's the only class offered that focuses on nonverbal communication. ... It’s an important part of receptive and expressive communication that can be found nowhere else," she said.

Following additional messages from students who also lobbied to protect the Focus program and business education classes, board president John Diviney said it's safe to say the board as a whole agreed with the students on the importance of those programs, but could not speak to the outcome of the eventual adoption of a budget. He noted that re-introducing a cut program at a later point in time is often difficult.

"What we’re going to try and do in the next couple months is figure out how we’re going to try and preserve as much as we can," he said.