posted September 10, 2009
The county schools are expecting about 63 German students for a special program promised to Volkswagen officials to help lure the $1 billion auto plant to Chattanooga.
Karla Riddle, who is overseeing the program, said some of the students are housed at Normal Park Magnet School in North Chattanooga and others at Brown Academy on Highway 58.
She said the program at Normal Park will likely be phased out and Signal Mountain Middle/High School utilized later.
She noted that both Brown and Signal have International Baccalaureate programs that would mean the German students would not have to worry about lost credits.
Ms. Riddle said though there are only 63 students expected this year, but there may be many more later. She noted that as many as 14,000 workers are expected at the main plant and supplier facilities.
She said the county's commitment extends only to children of plant workers who come here from overseas.
Ms. Riddle said the VW workers typically come with their families for a week and decide if they want to stay. She said they will be here for a few years, but not indefinitely.
She said native German teacher Verena Draper is working directly with the students on a German curriculum part of the school day and they join other students the rest of the day.
She said the school system had to order the German curriculum from overseas and then calculate how to pay for it in the equivalent of Euros.
Ms. Riddle said if additional German teachers are needed that about 10 good candidates have been lined up.
She said about two German students are at Bright School and about five at Baylor School.
She said it was earlier projected that the costs may be around $600,000 a year, but that may be on the high side.
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