Posted: 5/9/2024
On May 7 at the Haitian Bethel Baptist Church in Boynton Beach, Superintendent Mike Burke addressed issues and answered questions from the Haitian community regarding the state of education among Haitian students in the Palm Beach County School District. The town hall meeting was organized by District 7 School Board member Edwin Ferguson and Palm Beach County Commissioner Mack Bernard to provide an opportunity for the District to engage with the community.
Parents, District employees, and community leaders gathered to express their concerns, in addition to thanking the District for implementing the Haitian Creole / English Dual Language program at three elementary schools in the District.
The Dual Language programs are a nod to the approximately 10% of the District student population who are of Haitian descent. Additionally, more than 5% of District staff are Haitian Creole speakers. Discussion topics during the town hall also included student population statistics, special services needed to support the influx of Haitian immigrants, and having more Haitians/Haitian Americans in positions of leadership within the District.
