Three days after reducing a mother to tears over the topic of translation, schools Superintendent Reggie Mayo Thursday afternoon sent a letter to the group Teach Our Children (TOC) offering to go to mediation to work on the issue.
Mayo’s letter was delivered to the parent activist group at 2 p.m. Thursday.
It represents a 180-degree-turn from an ugly confrontation at the school board meeting Monday, when a young parent tried to reach out to Mayo to work together with TOC, then broke out in tears after he and his supporters lambasted her.
The incident was the latest in a series of contentious episodes regarding language translation in the city’s public schools. Parents say they want to be part of the city’s ambitious school reform drive, but language barriers block their way. Mayo and other administrators say they’ve done a lot to offer Spanish translation in schools; they call TOC’s methods counterproductive and obstructionist.
In his letter Thursday, Mayo struck a newly conciliatory tone. He wrote that he agrees that parents are a key part of the school reform. The district “has been and continues to be interested in removing all manners of barriers — including language — in pursuit of parental involvement” in the schools, he wrote.
Mayo proposed that Community Mediation host a discussion between TOC and the district. He proposed that TOC meet with Mayo’s chief of staff, Leida Pacini, as well as Liz Torres, who’s the parent representative on the school board.
Mayo said he’s already been in contact with Community Mediation, which is “prepared to support this dialogue.” He left the name and number of a mediator, Brenda Cavanaugh.
“The NHPS [New Haven Public Schools] looks forward to working together with TOC to improve parental involvement,” said Mayo’s letter, which is cc-ed to the city school board.
TOC received the letter Thursday afternoon. Parent leader Nilda Aponte gave the superintendent high marks.
“I’m very impressed,” she said. “I see collaboration. I see willingness. I see a community partnership. And overall, I see a team.”
Aponte said she’s bringing the letter to a TOC leadership meeting this week and they’ll make a decision on how to move forward.
Some previous stories on Teach Our Children:
• School Board Makes Mom Cry
• Mayo Swings Back
• Translation: No Progress Made
• Parents: Schools Still Short On Translators