At E.E. Miller Elementary School, Michel Santana’s older daughter is learning her core subjects in Spanish. Her younger daughter may never get that chance at the same school.
Her older daughter, a second grader, attends the school’s Spanish immersion program. Santana hopes her younger daughter will follow, but recommendations presented to the Cumberland County Board of Education on Friday would change that.
During the meeting, school district officials presented sweeping changes to the choice program. The proposals included ending Spanish immersion at E.E. Miller after the current school year, while continuing to offer the program at W.H. Owen Elementary School.
District leaders also recommended ending Cumberland Road Elementary’s Montessori program, creating a year-round track at Lewis Chapel Middle, and offering no replacement year-round high school option if Reid Ross Classical closes.
The update also calls for a new health sciences early college at Methodist University, a science and technology focus at Cumberland International Early College, and expanded language and career programs.
School Realignment and New Programs
The recommendations also include starting a Spanish-English dual-language program at Glendale Acres Elementary in 2027-28, with instruction divided equally between the two languages. Glendale Acres would serve kindergarten and first grade, while Ashley Elementary would serve grades two through five.
Dual-language instruction would reach Ashley in 2029-30 and Max Abbott Middle in 2033. Participating middle schoolers would take an academic course and a Spanish course taught in Spanish.
Terry Sanford High School would expand honors and AP Spanish offerings.
Staff recommended ending Cumberland Road Elementary’s Montessori program, citing low interest, high costs, its ending after first grade, and concerns about whether it follows Montessori teaching methods.
Mary McArthur Elementary would receive additional teacher training to integrate the arts across subjects.
Cumberland International Early College would become Cumberland Early College for Science and Technology through its Fayetteville State University partnership. Cross Creek Early College would expand its partnership with the university to prepare future teachers.
The recommendations also propose opening a Cumberland Health Sciences Early College at Methodist University in 2027-28, with Cape Fear Valley Health System clinical partnerships and priority admission pathways at Methodist. The district asked for permission to submit its application to the state.
At Douglas Byrd High School, the Academy of Green Technology would become the Academy of Innovation, offering clean energy, artificial intelligence, drone technology, and Adobe instruction. Its Academy of Finance would strengthen career opportunities.
Terry Sanford would add a hospitality and tourism academy partnering with hotels, restaurants, and sports venues.
E.E. Smith High School’s fire academy would work to fill available seats, while Pine Forest High School’s information technology academy would expand partnerships, certifications, and employment connections. Westover High School’s engineering and health academies would strengthen community partnerships.
South View High School’s International Baccalaureate program would strengthen preparation for ninth and 10th graders and improve scheduling, marketing, and school culture.
What Would it Cost?
The recommendations would cost the district $1,076,685 in programming expenses associated with the rollout from 2027-28 through 2033-34. That figure consists of 11 additional full-time positions budgeted at $93,335 each, totaling $1,026,685, plus $50,000 for the proposed health sciences early college at Methodist University.
The positions include four at Ashley Elementary, totaling $373,340; two each at Glendale Acres Elementary and Max Abbott Middle, totaling $186,670 per school; and one each at Terry Sanford , New Century International Middle, and Seventy-First High, at $93,335 per school.
The nearly $1.08 million does not include the full recurring costs of the programs.
The school district is also exploring the possibility of providing transportation to all students who attend choice programs beginning with the 2028-29 school year, according to Lavette Braswell, assistant superintendent of secondary education.
“Findings from our choice evaluation confirm that lack of transportation remains a major deterrent for families,” she said.
‘It’s Heartbreaking’
On Friday, Santana and other parents attended the school board work session to oppose phasing out the Spanish immersion program. Several board members also objected to recommendations affecting immersion, year-round schooling, and other choice programs, and wanted more time to consider them.
Spanish immersion is offered through the district’s choice program, which families apply to attend. Students learn core subjects through Spanish, beginning in kindergarten, rather than taking Spanish only as a separate language class.
“They start second language learning in kindergarten receiving 100% of their instruction in that target language,” Braswell said.
As students advance, some instruction shifts to English to prepare them for state tests administered in English, Braswell said. The district also offers Chinese immersion.
For Santana, allowing current students to finish does not resolve what happens to younger siblings.
“It’s heartbreaking to think that an opportunity our family values so much may not be available to her or to other families in the future,” she said.
E.E. Miller families faced another proposed change earlier this year. On February 9, the board voted 5-4 to move the school to a traditional calendar before 2027-28. After parents raised concerns about losing the year-round option and disrupting child care arrangements, the board’s Auxiliary Services Committee unanimously recommended reversing that decision in March.
Why Consolidate?
The school district’s recommendations grew out of a survey of choice program stakeholders last school year, Braswell said. District leaders sought to improve programs and establish consistent options as students move between schools, including if Anne Chesnutt Middle and Reid Ross Classical close in 2027-28.
“The purpose of this study was to enhance the quality of our choice programs, remove barriers, and guide district growth. Our goal is to align programming and also provide relevant options for students based on the job market,” Braswell said.
For E.E. Miller families, the proposed changes would establish separate middle school destinations for year-round schooling and immersion. Students could apply to a year-round track at Lewis Chapel Middle or continue language instruction at New Century International Middle.
“Consolidating our programs will allow for more alignment and better support of our immersion programs. It also provides consistency in programming and a better ability to monitor accountability systems to ensure students are receiving quality instruction that they need and deserve,” Braswell said.
The presentation listed 105 Spanish immersion students at E.E. Miller and 121 at W.H. Owen. Across all programs, E.E. Miller enrolled 629 students and had capacity for 712, while Owen enrolled approximately 415 and had capacity for 512.
Under the recommendations, elementary Spanish immersion would be consolidated at Owen, while New Century International Elementary’s Chinese immersion program would receive additional instructional and marketing support.
Students continuing either language at New Century International Middle would take one core academic course and one language course in their target language each year. Braswell said the school enrolled 341 students and had capacity for 906. Seventy-First High would expand honors and Advanced Placement offerings in Spanish and Chinese.
The proposed Lewis Chapel year-round track would align with E.E. Miller’s calendar, with one teacher team serving 100 students per grade, or 300 overall. Lewis Chapel enrolled 590 students and had capacity for 954, according to the presentation.
“This model effectively maximizes current facility capacity while maintaining a stable middle school option. Admission will be application-based with a lottery system implemented if demand exceeds available seats,” Braswell said.
If Reid Ross closes, its middle school students could return to their assigned schools or apply to Lewis Chapel’s year-round track. Its high school students would return to their assigned high schools.
“Due to the unique scheduling complexity inherent to high school coursework, our recommendation is to no longer offer a year-round option at the high school level,” Braswell said.
‘Why Are They Attacking E.E. Miller?’
The parents’ concerns about losing opportunities also surfaced during the board’s discussion. After the presentation, board member Mary Hales questioned whether affected families needed more notice.
“I have no problem with adding to schools, okay, but taking from schools, I have a problem with it. The people who these changes will affect need to be aware of it, even before the choice fair in November,” Hales said.
Board attorney Nick Sojka explained that instructional changes, including new programs and grade configurations, required board approval. Members could approve the entire package, approve individual recommendations, or continue discussing others. The presentation did not seek approval to close schools.
Hales opposed removing Spanish immersion from E.E. Miller and questioned the benefit of moving students when the district would still have to operate the school.
“This year has been a year of wheels changing and spinning and going around and around. And I’m being very open and honest about it. I don’t agree with it personally, as a former educator, and a former principal, I don’t agree with it,” she said.
Board member Deanna Jones questioned whether the 16-student difference between the two immersion programs had influenced the recommendation.
“So did those numbers factor into the decision-making? Another thing, did you speak with the principal? Was she okay with taking that out of her school?” Jones asked.
Tonya Leathers, the district’s chief academic officer, said principals had not yet been consulted because board members had asked to receive the information first.
Jones, whose district includes E.E. Miller, read concerns from constituents about what the school stood to lose.
“Why are they attacking E.E. Miller? You’re ruining the culture here,” she read.
“Consider the impact it can have on children and families, not just the logistics of reorganizing the program,” another comment read.
Jones shared their opposition.
“I’m not in favor of removing the Spanish immersion from that school,” she said.
Leathers said the recommendation addressed how students would continue their programs in middle school, particularly if Anne Chesnutt closes. Under the plan, students seeking year-round schooling would apply to Lewis Chapel, while those continuing immersion would attend New Century International Middle.
“We’re not stopping Spanish immersion. We’re shifting it to Owen,” Leathers said.
Questions about removing programs extended beyond E.E. Miller. Board member Terra Jordan challenged the recommendation to eliminate Cumberland Road Elementary’s Montessori program, an approach that emphasizes hands-on learning, student choice, and independent work.
“Is there a reason why we couldn’t keep this program? From what I’ve seen, it’s a great program, and I’d like to know if parents and teachers were made aware of the possible shift to end it,” Jordan said.
Hales also questioned eliminating the year-round high school option if Reid Ross closes. Leathers cited scheduling difficulties at comprehensive high schools and pointed to early colleges’ modified calendars as another option.
Board member Greg West supported the changes and urged the board to vote to allow the district to communicate its offerings to families. The district’s annual choice fair is scheduled for November 14 at South View High School. Applications are scheduled to open November 16 and close January 8.
“Our district leaders have poured into this, and we just can’t stop the school timeline—we have to make a decision,” West said.
Board member Jackie Warner said the recommendations followed a review the board had requested.
“As you recall, not exactly this time last year, but we requested the documentation and data for how our choice program was doing.,” Warner said. “We also reviewed recommendations on how we can make them better, to better serve our students and give more opportunities.”
Board member Delores Bells wanted more time to review the recommendations.
“You did bring a lot to us. What I would do is to sit and think about it. We have our committee meetings next week,” Bells said.
‘Don’t Move Our Program’
The families who attended brought their concerns on brightly colored signs. One child held a pink poster above her head reading, “¡No muevan nuestro programa!”—“Don’t move our program!” Beside her, another child held an orange sign expressing her love of learning at E.E. Miller.
For Santana, the school’s appeal includes the relationships her family has formed.
“Our family really enjoys the year-round school experience and being part of a community where our children can learn, grow, and build meaningful relationships with their teachers, staff, and classmates,” she said.
“I want my younger daughter to have the same opportunity to attend E.E. Miller and experience the Spanish immersion program when it’s her time to start school.”
Parent Michelle Cazarez questioned what ending the program at E.E. Miller would mean for families who chose where to live with multiple children’s schooling in mind.
“What do you tell families, especially military families, who were new to this area, or someone who relocated for transportation purposes, and purchased a home in that immediate area?” Cazarez asked.
She pointed to Santana’s hopes of enrolling her younger daughter and questioned how principals had been involved in developing the recommendations.
“It became obvious today that principals were not brought into some of these discussions. It seems that schools were cherry picked on when admin was brought into the conversation,” Cazarez said.
Her concerns extended to students who wanted to remain on a year-round calendar through graduation.
“And for me, Reid Ross going away takes away the high school element of year-round, which is a big concern for many people,” she said.
Cazarez wanted implementation delayed until 2028-29. She said the agenda had been released about two days before the work session, giving families little time to review the recommendations.
“So who has time to properly review and cross reference this information, in the way to make sure it makes sense, in the way that it’s presented, in order to hold a proper vote?” she asked.
For Santana, attending was also about families whose children have yet to enter school.
“We’re here because we want to preserve that opportunity for the next generation of students,” Cazarez said.
The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed choice program changes at a meeting on Thursday following its committee meetings.
