District officials rebut claims of teacher exodus and neighborhood harm
Manchester School District officials have publicly defended the district’s Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program after a founder of a local nonprofit raised concerns during the public comment portion of the Aug. 10 school board meeting. The comments, delivered by Matt Courchesne, founder and executive director of Helping Our Pupils Excel (HOPE NH Inc.), said the program’s implementation at Bakersville Elementary has led to negative effects on teachers and families in the neighborhood.
Superintendent of Schools Jennifer Chmiel rejected those assertions in a statement to district stakeholders, calling Courchesne’s remarks “disingenuous and not honest” and saying his characterization of the program and its effects were inappropriate.
“The change I’ve witnessed at Bakersville Elementary since the implementation of the dual language immersion program compels me to speak tonight… Before coming here, I reached out privately to three board members. One board member specifically told me I don’t understand the program and was spreading misinformation. Here is what I do understand: I’ve been part of that building for the past five years, investing both time and money. I’ve seen the implementation of the program and the change of culture it has had on the Bakersfield community. The evidence I see is an exodus of teachers leaving Bakersville. When an entire instructional team turns over during the implementation of a major initiative, that should prompt questions not assumptions that everything is wonderful.
I am also concerned about the impact this program may have on Bakersville as a neighborhood school. As the program expands, families may have fewer meaningful choices if they discover DLI is not the right fit for their child. Parents should not have to choose between staying in a specialized program and staying in their neighborhood school.”
What district leaders say
Chmiel’s response to those public comments emphasized the district’s support for the DLI program and pushed back on the portrayal that it has driven staff departures or damaged Bakersville’s role as a neighborhood school. In her remarks she described Courchesne’s statements as inappropriate and questioned the accuracy of the claims that prompted his request for a formal review of DLI implementation and outcomes.
District officials have not released staffing turnover numbers or a formal timeline of DLI expansion in connection with these comments. Board members were the recipients of Courchesne’s appeal at the Aug. 10 meeting, where he urged a review of both implementation and student outcomes connected to the program.
- Who spoke: Matt Courchesne, founder/executive director of HOPE NH Inc.
- Who responded: Superintendent Jennifer Chmiel.
- Where: Manchester School Board meeting, public comment portion, Aug. 10.
Local implications and next steps
Dual language programs can reshape enrollment patterns, teacher assignments and family choices at neighborhood schools. Courchesne framed his concerns around both staff turnover and shrinking choices for families if the DLI program continues to expand, and called on the board to review the program’s implementation. District leaders have signaled they stand by the program and have disputed the particulars of his account.
For Manchester families, the exchange highlights tensions that sometimes accompany specialized programs within neighborhood schools: supporters point to benefits such as bilingualism and enriched instruction, while critics raise questions about staffing, access and whether neighborhood-based enrollment is preserved.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Courtchesne’s public comments at school board meeting | Aug. 10 |
| Superintendent Chmiel’s public response | Following Aug. 10 meeting |
School board members will determine whether to take up Courchesne’s request for an official review. Any formal evaluation would likely examine staffing data, student outcomes and family access — though the district has not announced plans for such a review at this time.
As Manchester public schools open for the academic year, parents and staff at Bakersville and other schools with specialized programs will be watching for clarity about how DLI is being implemented and monitored. The debate raised at the board meeting underscores the need for transparent data and communication from district leaders so families can assess whether programs meet educational goals without eroding neighborhood-school ties.
WE NEWS will continue to follow any board action, staffing disclosures or formal reviews related to the Dual Language Immersion program in Manchester.
