Mitchell Says Immigrant Children Will Affect Local Schools

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell realizes the potential problems the "border crisis" along the Texas/Mexico border poses to cities like New Bedford.

Mitchell's primary concern lies within the education system, and says accomodations are already being made to make room for students whose primary language is not English.

Speaking on his weekly radio program, Mitchell says more ELL teachers are being hired or trained, and class and bus schedules are being rearranged as well. He adds the city will eventually seek out more federal funding to support those changes.

Mitchell says in order to assess how much more money is needed to support the influx of immigrant children, the city will have to look at the fluctuation in school enrollment.

He adds the situation may call for legislation in order to obtain extra funding.