Students at Sonoma Valley High School who selected French as an elective for their 2026-2027 school year were met with disappointing news in an email sent on March 30th. The message informed them that SVHS will no longer offer French due to declining interest. Instead, students who wish to continue studying the language are encouraged to explore options through Santa Rosa Junior College’s foreign language course catalog.
The announcement sparked immediate concern from students, teachers, and parents alike. On March 31, Devin Daly, SVHS’s only French teacher, launched a petition titled “Viva La France!” in an effort to preserve the program.
The petition quickly gained traction, collecting over 380 signatures from students, parents, staff, and community members, demonstrating that, while enrollment numbers may be low, support for the program remains strong.
At the April 9th Sonoma Valley Unified School Board of Trustees meeting, Mr. Daly outlined the broader implications of eliminating French. “Over 60 percent of our student body are native Spanish speakers. They will no longer have a foreign language offered to them on campus,” he said.
His statement highlights a key issue: The removal of French does not just eliminate one elective, but reduces linguistic diversity and academic opportunity for a large portion of the student body.
While SVHS offers Spanish for Native Speakers to strengthen reading and writing skills, it does not replace the experience of learning a new language. For students who are already proficient in Spanish or who hope to become trilingual, the absence of French removes a pathway on campus.
Although the SRJC option technically keeps French available, it introduces new barriers. Scheduling conflicts, transportation challenges, and the loss of an in-person high school classroom experience make this alternative less appealing and accessible for some students.
As Mr. Daly explained, “As far as those sophomores currently enrolled in French, they’re not likely to complete three to four years of a single language for UC requirements.”
Students also voiced their perspectives at the meeting, showing how the program impacts more than just academics. Senior Ronaldo Rojas stated, “French helps me socialize in a fun way,” and “I want future students to experience the same positive results I have,” highlighting how language classes build connection and community.
Another senior, Bella Alvarez, connected the issue to school pride: “I want to be able to go to college and say ‘I went to Sonoma Valley High School, the best high school.’ And I think taking away this elective really makes that difficult.” She added, “We’re saying we want to build, but we’re taking away,” pointing out the contradiction between expanding opportunities and removing programs.
“French gives students opportunities to go to school in other places,” said 10th grader Audra Walsh, emphasizing how learning a language can open doors to study abroad and broaden academic experiences beyond high school.
At the same time, administrative challenges complicated the situation. According to Molly Kiss, SVHS’s principal, the decision to discontinue French stems not only from declining interest but from consistently low enrollment over the past few years, with requests holding steady at around 50 students.
When asked how this outcome might have been averted, Ms. Kiss suggested that earlier exposure, such as introducing French programs in middle schools, could have encouraged students to pursue the language in high school. She also noted that SVHS is working to provide alternatives, including a home period that allows students to take French courses through the SRJC, offering flexibility and an early college experience.
The decision to remove the French program at SVHS reflects a complex balance between logistical limitations and educational values. While low enrollment and staffing challenges are valid concerns, there was also a strong student response and petition support from the community that may suggest future interest in the program.
