USD 480 Hires Myanmar Translator

LIBERAL, Kan. (AP) – A southwest Kansas school district is

hiring a translator to help its 35 students from the southeast

Asian nation of Myanmar.

The High Plains Daily Leader (http://bit.ly/oSP5hF ) reports the

board of Liberal USD 480 has voted to create a new paraprofessional

position in teaching English as a second language.

Several families from the country formerly known as Burma have

arrived recently in Liberal. District official Laura Cano says

communication can be difficult, and not just because of the

language barrier. Cano says there are also cultural issues.

For example, she says, some students don’t understand that they

must attend school all day, every day. She says that some attend

part of the day, then simply go home.

The new position will be funded with money set aside for

bilingual classrooms.