Schools

IB World School Status Not Being Pursued at Indian Trail 'At This Time'

But, Indian Trail is still an IB candidate school.

Indian Trail Elementary School won't pursue full International Baccalaureate status at this time, but the controversial teaching method will still be used there, following school board action Monday.

After a couple amendments and motions, the  rejected, in a 3-2 vote,  a recommendation to " take the steps necessary to obtain International Baccalaureate World School status for  and not pursue such status at any other school in the district at this time." But, it still remains as an IB 'candidate' school.

Board members Karen Powers, Fred Bonacci and Rod Armstrong voted against the motion and members Dick Spangler and Karen Wright voted for the motion at the at the .

Find out what's happening in Stowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

To get that status, the board would have to approve pursuing it. IB program officials then would visit the school to evaluate whether it is prepared to become an IB World School.

Indian Trail teachers have been training to teach using the IB program; four more are going to Westlake in March for IB training, at a cost of $3,200.

Find out what's happening in Stowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Professional development in the program will continue, Superintendent Russ Jones said. That's because professional development through IB training may be taken by any teacher in any district, even those not in IB candidate or status schools, a district spokeswoman said.

"Moving forward we will pay a $7,600 yearly affiliation fee and will cap our professional development expenses at $7,500 each year," Jones said in an email before the meeting. Money to pay for the fees and expenses come from Summit County and federal funds.

According to the program's website, it takes a few years for a candidate school to pursue World School status. Indian Trail is in its second year as a candidate school.

District Treasurer/CFO Catherine Bulgrin said although the motion was voted down, a similar motion is likely to appear before the board again. 

"We will continue to pursue that status as we move forward," she said.

Armstrong said again he does not favor having the program in the district at all and made a motion to "suspend all actions to pursue IB World School status for IT and not to pursue such status at any other school at this time." The motion failed because it was not seconded.

Bonacci, who said he is very "neutral" on the subject of IB at Indian Trail, said he supports the option the Indian Trail teachers and the district's IB coordinator offered during a private meeting with him Sunday: evaluate whether the program should stay, be modified or killed after a year.

The IB program has met with strong resistance from a group whose members say it wastes money that could be used in other professional development areas or disagree with the program's international aspects. Some commented during the meeting. No residents spoke in favor of the program.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Stow