While students from another country attending local schools can add to the experience of both students from Watertown and the one from abroad, legal liabilities may stand in the way of the Watertown Public Schools accepting foreign exchange students.
On April 22, the School Committee discussed the issue of how to accept foreign exchange students, but continue to be stymied by the legal issues.
The problem arose when the School Committee looked at updating the policy for foreign exchange students to require them to be living with a legal guardian. School Committee member Eileen Hsu-Balzer, who chairs the Policy Subcommittee, said that poses a problem with the companies running the exchanges.
“Under these programs what we found out — many times — the program does not designate the host family as legal guardians, and they (the programs) are not the legal guardian,” Hsu-Balzer said. “It is kind of a limbo land — there is not legal guardian.”
However, if the district adds the requirement of living with a legal guardian, it may mean that the programs organizing foreign exchange students would not send them to Watertown, Hsu-Balzer said.
A legal guardian is needed, Hsu-Balzer said, because there could be situations when they are called upon, such as with a medical issue, disciplinary problem, or even financial situation. If there is no legal guardian, Hsu-Balzer said, it could leave the Watertown Schools legally liable.
School Committee member Lindsay Mosca asked why the foreign exchange student’s parents could not act as the legal guardian. Hsu-Balzer said there are some instances where that would not work.
“(For instance,) someone needs medical treatment and something needs to signed by a legal guardian, and the legal guardian is living in Oslo, Norway,” Hsu-Balzer said.
Other foreign exchange students, such as those who live with a family member or friend in Watertown would not be impacted by the policy, Hsu-Balzer said, because the host family would serve as the guardian.
Town Council President Mark Sideris said that he would not feel comfortable making any decision without getting an opinion from the Town’s attorney.
“Depending on what comes out of that, we may not want to approve this policy,” Sideris said.
The School Committee agreed to take up the issue again after hearing from the Town’s law firm.
Astonishing. How about asking any of the many schools in Massachusetts that have foreign exchange students?
I agree. This isn’t a new concept. They’re not “reinventing the wheel” here.
Couldn’t have said this better. Like the parking policy and so many other things, just look at the other communities nearby….these “issues” have already been solved. You’re not the smartest people in the room who identified some new risk to mitigate. Just get out of the way and let the normal course of things work.
I have the same question Bruce. Has Watertown or any other “public” school supported by taxpayers in MA ever allowed this? Under what circumstances? Private boarding schools, with hefty tuitions and comprehensive student support services, are in a different league. This policy debate raises a numerous questions. Does this have something to do with our dwindling high school student numbers? According to the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/profiles/student.aspx?orgcode=03140505&orgtypecode=6&, Watertown High (03140505) presently has 659 students. Time to review the WCATV April 22 School Committee meeting.
Strange to even consider accepting exchange students. Our schools are very diverse already, many different countries and cultures are represented. Unfortunately, Watertown’s schools have been underperforming for years so I question why anyone who choose to send their child to Watertown if they weren’t a resident. The high school building is in rough shape and school resources overall are stretched thin.