Chatham schools to partner with China, share resources

Caitlin Mullen

Nov. 7, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- PITTSBORO -- Chatham County Schools are on the cusp of participating in a language and educational partnership program with China which could bring more than $500,000 worth of educational resources to the schools.

At Monday night's Chatham County School Board meeting, Superintendent Robert Logan told the board that the district has been asked to participate in Chinese Bridge Delegation, coordinated by the N.C. Center for International Understanding.

Logan and Robin McCoy, assistant superintendent of instructional services, have been approved to attend an eight-day trip to China, from December 2-10, which is a study program for State Board of Education members and district leaders. Logan said the Hanban Foundation, a Chinese language and culture organization, has $1.5 billion to use to spread Chinese language and culture around the world.

"My goal is to get our three high schools in the program," Logan told the board, referring to Jordan-Matthews, Chatham Central and Northwood. The highlights of the program include a Mandarin teacher for three years, "tens of thousands of dollars" in instructional materials and a foreign exchange program, Logan said. The program would be implemented in schools for the 2010-11 school year.

Logan said this type of program is what's best for the students, and for preparing them for the future.

"We live in a global society now. In some communities in our country, people are a little too tied to home," Logan said. "We have to prepare our young people to compete globally, internationally. China is already a major player on the world market."

It's also part of the district's strategic plan to create an international exchange program for students and staff, said Public Information Officer Beth McCullough.

The price is $700 per person for the initial trip to China in December, so total cost would likely be about $15,000 for he and McCoy to travel to China. There is also a $5,000 one-time program fee.

Logan said he feels the cost of the program is minor compared to what Chatham schools will get in return.

"It's one of those things where if the system wouldn't pay, we would be tempted to pay it ourselves out of pocket to see it happen," he said of the program.

Logan said 45 schools in the state have been asked to get involved and will be paired with 45 Chinese schools.

"It is a wonderful opportunity," he told the board. "It's a world-class program ... and they pursued us."

School Board Chairwoman Kathie Russell said she would like to learn more about the program, because she hasn't had a lot of time to study it, but is pleased with what she's heard so far.

"The more kinds of global opportunities we can provide our students, it's so critical," she said. "The potential benefit to us so outweighs the cost."

She expects the community will be supportive of the program.

"In general, I think yeah, most people understand the need for cultural interchanges," she said.

While working in the Asheville school district, Logan said he helped set up a similar partnership with Denmark.

"These things require administrators to do a lot of work," he said. "It doesn't happen in every community because people aren't willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work. This isn't a tourist trip for us to go to China."

Newstex ID: KRTB-0411-39528531