Workshops focus on Hispanic education The program is the first of its kind in the state By Patti Zarling News-Chronicle Organizers hope a few days of special training will help build a bridge between Hispanic parents, students and the Green Bay area school system. A total of 30 parents and community members will begin a series of workshops next week that thoroughly explain parent rights and responsibilities, the importance of parent/teacher conferences, high school graduation requirements, higher education requirements, and programs available at different schools. Hosted by the Hispanic Advisory Council to Green Bay Mayor Paul Jadin, the panel includes parents and bilingual teachers from Nicolet, Danz, Fort Howard and Eisenhower elementary schools, East High School and Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. The training will take place Monday through Dec. 6 and includes field trips to area schools as well as a School Board or City Council meeting, according to Alex Zacarias, chairman of the Hispanic Advisory Council. "We want all parents to obtain the best tools that they need to help their kids get the best education," Zacarias said. "There's been some parents who feel not enough is done for their children. As part of the Advisory Committee, we hear there aren't enough bilingual teachers, and that people need a little bit of cultural understanding. "But parents also sometimes feel that the school system should be in charge of the kids and they're more hands-off. They need to take a more active role. "I think there's a general lack of understanding between the school system and families, and that leads to frustration. "We're not reinventing the wheel here, but this program allows us to put everything together so Hispanic parents can grasp what's going on." He said that even within the school system, there isn't enough networking taking place. While putting together the program, for instance, university administrators would mention programs elementary or middle school teachers didn't know were available. Zacarias said the core group of trainers will then instruct others. The program is conducted by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He said that he's already received calls from interested administers from as far away as Janesville. He said people are impressed because the program attempts to involve everyone in the process. "National studies show half of Hispanic kids don't graduate from high school," he said. "Children are suffering. We want parents to really feel they're part of the system."