HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-09-2004 - 5g4
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: September 9, 2004
Action Age~a
Item No.
SUBJECT: Contract with Chapel Hill Institute for Cultural and Spanish Language Education
for Employee Spanish Language Training
DEPARTMENT: Personnel PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Spanish Language Training Agreement Kathleen Goodhand, 245-2556
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider approving a contract with the Chapel Hill Institute for Guttural and
Spanish Language Education (CHICLE) to provide six standard levels of Spanish grammar and
conversational Spanish training ranging from beginning to advanced for Orange County
employees.
BACKGROUND: In accordance with the Board of County Commissioners Hispanic/Latino
Relations Goal: "To assess and respond to the needs of the growing Hispanic/Latino population
in Orange County, the County expanded and implemented a more intensive Spanish language
training program for employees in addition to the Cultural Diversity and Cultural Awareness
Building training also provided.
Since 1997, the County has contracted with a number of different vendors to provide basic
Spanish language training to employees. To expand and increase the number and level of
Spanish language classes taught so that employees could progress to the advanced level, the
County began looking for local vendors that could provide Spanish language training at all
levels to both individuals and groups. Last year, the County contracted with the Chapel Hill
Institute for Cultural and Spanish Language Education (CHICLE) for employee Spanish
language training. CHICLE provides six standard levels of Spanish grammar and
conversational Spanish, including beginning, basic, intermediate, advanced intermediate and
two levels of advanced conversation.
Along with these expanded class offerings, employee interest and participation in Spanish
language classes has increased as several employees took the opportunity to participate in
multiple classes. Nineteen employees now have advanced their Spanish language skills to the
Intermediate and Advanced level.
Employee feedback and class evaluations regarding the quality of classes taught by CHICLE
also was extremely positive. CHICLE is a locally owned business, located in downtown
.2~
Carrboro. Their Spanish language instruction emphasizes oral communication skills with
classes that are participatory and provide for active learning. The focus of the curriculum is on
spoken Spanish and the students speak and hear mostly Spanish from the very beginning of
classes. CHICLE has a teaching staff of approximately 15 to 20 teachers. All of their teachers
have extensive teaching experience and most of the Spanish teachers are native speakers.
Those who are not native speakers have lived in aSpanish-speaking country and are
completely bilingual.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The total cost for Spanish Language training would not exceed $12,000.
Funding was included in the approved 2004-05 budget for this purpose.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board authorize the Board
Chair to sign the attached agreement for Spanish language training services
,r
Memorandum of Agreement
Between Training Facilitator CHICLE and Orange County
Attachment
This Memorandum of Agreement outlines the agreement between Training Facilitator CHICLE
and Orange County for providing Spanish Language training to Orange County employees.
A. CHICLE Responsibilities
• Provide Spanish language classes at the Chapel Hill Institute for Cultural and Language
Education (CHICLE), 101 East Weaver Street, Carrboro, NC 27510.
• Provide up to six standard levels of Spanish grammar instruction as well as
conversational Spanish at $8 per hour per participant. Will bill County for each individual
participant. Classes will be offered if at least five students are enrolled.
• Provide up to three Brown Bag Series classes with topics related to Hispanic/Latino
education and relations.
• Provide online testing of Spanish language level to determine employee's placement.
o Provide County with the following:
o Roster of attendance,
o Participant participation,
o Class evaluation by participants
o Provide County with flyers and email to communicate class offerings.
B. Orange County Responsibilities
• Communicate CHICLE training opportunities to employees.
• Provide approval and list of registrants to CHICLE.
• Pay all approved invoices within 30 days of receipt of the invoice not to exceed a total
amount of $2,000 under this agreement.
C. Termination
• Either party may terminate this agreement at any time with two weeks advance written
notice.
CHICLE
Barry Jacobs, Chair
Board of County Commissioners
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