Schools

Mandarin Chinese Could Be a Language Option for PBSD Students

Officials are looking into offering Mandarin Chinese language classes for children in the district.

Plum Borough School District officials are exploring options that would allow students to take Madarin Chinese language classes.

At an education committee meeting earlier this week, board member Sal Colella said offering the course would be a great strategy in making students more "global."

Officials discussed two options—participating in a program with the Confucius Institute at the University of Pittsburgh in which teachers come directly from China to teach at local schools, or with A.W. Beattie Career Center in North Hills in which students can participate in the course via live video at their high school.

Assistant Superintendent Timothy Glasspool said it could cost up to $15,000 to bring a teacher to the school through the Confucius Institute program. The Beattie program would cost about $500 per student plus the cost of books.

Colella said he really embraces acquiring a program for the junior high students or even children as young as second-graders.

Officials expect to continue the conversation at the Tuesday, Oct. 25 school board meeting.

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