The school’s  first set of French classes for parents and staff members have attracted a dozen participants, board members learned at their monthly meeting, Jan. 9.

As further evidence of the popularity of French-immersion education, the recent application process, now closed, drew 31 candidates for second grade and 17 for third, even though the Lycée Français did not advertise the program. The school is drafting an amendment to its charter that, if approved, would open additional classrooms for those grades.

Based on an internal analysis, Lycée Français would need commitments from 15 to 20 students per grade before it could justify the expansion.

Once the requested amendment is complete, the board has authorized chairman Andrew Abrams to sign on their behalf and present the document to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in hopes of gaining fast-track approval. More information will be provided at the next board meeting.

In other business, the board voted to remove the French-proficiency requirement for first-graders from the charter school contract. It was removed to make the school an open-enrollment institution.

The board met at the First Presbyterian Church, two people were in the audience including a Lens reporter.

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 13.