AP Classes Are a Go, But No Word on Foreign Languages at Trenton High

Ann Deneroff, director of curriculum for Trenton Public Schools, announced at the regularly scheduled board of education meeting Monday night that there will be ten advanced placement classes available to high school students in the fall.

Ten is the same number of classes offered at last year.

The announcement came months after school administrators said due to lowered enrollment and .

The recent budget cuts could force district administrators to drop some foreign language classes at the high school.

Administrators and board members did not know whether or not all will be available for the 2011-12 school year.

The class schedules have not been completed and students may not know if they can take higher-level French and German classes until just before the school year begins.

Trenton parent and retired English teacher Diane Nowak spoke to board members about the importance of foreign language classes.

"Obviously, in our global society, foreign language study isn't just desirable–it's critical," Nowak said.

Nowak said she has spoken with "almost all" of the parents whose children had planned to take French 3 and 4 and said some were saddened and "tearful" at the possibility the classes may not be available.

Trenton parent Shannon Kell also spoke to board members about the issue.

"There's always school of choice, but if you don't find out until the last minute how are you supposed to prepare your future for that," Kell said. "I mean, it's not fair."

Trenton High School Principal Michael Doyle said administrators don't know if the classes will be available.

"I keep hearing this and nothing is official," Doyle said. "We don't know what's going to happen."