Over 390 residents have signed a petition to save Sonoma Valley High’s French program after officials moved to cut the 40-year-old department for the 2026-27 school year.
According to the Sonoma Index-Tribune, the decision follows the retirement of longtime teacher Devin Daly, with the district citing declining enrollment and budget constraints.
Students and parents express outrage, claiming the school broke its promise to provide a four-year language pathway. The cut leaves Spanish as the only on-campus foreign language, a move critics say limits options for the school’s large population of native Spanish speakers.
While the district suggests students utilize online courses or junior college classes, families argue those alternatives lack the support and accessibility of a classroom.
School leaders maintain they may reconsider the program in the future if student interest sees a significant resurgence.
