The Eanes school district inched closer to establishing a foreign language program for elementary school students Monday.

Curriculum head Bill Bechtol told board members that a recent parent survey showed overwhelming support for a Spanish program.

“People would love for us to add a Spanish program during the school day,” Bechtol said. “The questions become where do we fit that into an already crowded daily schedule, and where do we find the funds in this economy to pay for a new program.”

Bechtol said district administrators would forge ahead with investigation into what type of Spanish program might be possible for elementary-aged students next year.

“In light of the current (impending deficit) budget situation, it seems unlikely we could really add any program into the regular curriculum,” he said. “What we may be moving toward is a technology-based program, something where one of our teachers teaches the class over the Internet.”

It is too early to say what kind of a program the district may recommend for adoption, he said. Other options might include an intense summer immersion program followed by before- or after-school programs during the school year that students can sign up for through the district’s community education department. The district is also looking at adding thematic Spanish instruction into the existing curriculum at its six elementary schools, adding Spanish into history, English and other regular classes.

“The idea is to make the information more relevant,” Bechtol said.

The next step for administrators is to assign a committee to put together a specific proposal on how to provide some level of the foreign language to elementary school students without further stressing a district budget or young students. Board members did not give administrators a deadline in coming up with their proposal. Bechtol said he thought it would be well into the 2010-11 school year before board members get a concrete plan.

“I would like to have a program in place by next summer,” he said.