RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. — Folsom Cordova Unified spent over $100,000 ahead of the current school year to purchase real-time translators, which aid with parent and family accessibility, the school district said.
Approximately 95 languages are spoken within the district, according to FCUSD spokeswoman Angela Griffin Ankhelyi. Each of its 38 schools’ main office is equipped with a TranslateLive device, and three schools have two devices each, she said. At $2,500 apiece, the district spent about $102,500 to break language barriers.
Griffin Ankhelyi said the district’s three schools with two devices are Cordova High School, Mills Middle School and Mitchell Middle School. The most commonly-needed languages are Spanish, Russian, Farsi, Dari and Ukrainian, she said.
The devices help determine when to enlist a teacher’s aide help, according to Griffin Ankhelyi.
“Each school site is equipped with one of these devices, which supplements translation services and helps determine when a translator is needed,” she said. “We have a staff of nearly 80 bilingual instructional assistants employed to assist with translation at school sites.”
A real-time translator means each person selects the language they wish to speak and the language into which they want their words to be translated, according to school officials.
“When either person presses their button, the device translates for the other,” Griffin Ankhelyi said. “The translation can be read aloud or viewed as text by either party.”
The district said the machines are reportedly HIPAA compliant, enhance day-to-day interactions and celebrate diversity.
“I love it. It’s very helpful,” said Luiza Valieva, a parent coordinator. “...We had someone who spoke Portuguese come to the school. We don’t have Portuguese translators on staff, so this made it possible for us to communicate.”
ABC10 sent inquiries in September to the Sacramento City Unified, Elk Grove Unified, Stockton Unified and Twin Rivers Unified school districts about what they employ to break down language barriers within their communities and were asked if they have looked into or currently employ similar translation devices.
All four queries were unanswered.
