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 .
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.
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.
Furthermore, Dr. Jones has stated twice, that I can recall, that IB is being funded not only with federal funds but also with Summit County property taxes so yes it is being funded locally in part at this time. If they were to expand it then most of it would have to be funded from our property taxes and not just our income taxes (federal funds) because most of the district's schools do not qualify for the Title 1 funds. It was wise to limit it to one school.
1) Compared to AP, IB will increase college costs for most students. 2) The required TOK class is composed entirely of questions like, "When can it be right to disobey the law? Can suicide bombers be right?" 3) IB will not improve student performance. 4) IB's pedagogical method is one of constructivism and inquiry based learning to promote a specific ideology. 5) IB is extremely expensive. 6) Why schools drop IB. 7) Some people have religious concerns with IB. 8) IB is an NGO of UNESCO (UN) and the goal is to promote the UN ideology. 9) At the elementary level IB is forced on all children in the school and the stated goal is to "develop attitudes," and to get students to "take action." 10) With IB, schools give up some local control to a Swiss organization. 11) AP is the best fit for gifted students. 12) When IB/AP classes are combined the IB material must take priority. 13) For the IB diploma students must complete 10 required classes in 11th and 12th grade. 14) IB is implemented in a deceitful way over and over throughout the United States. Once someone questions IB an open and honest discussion is never allowed, and the community becomes divided. This article has links proving/supporting each statement above, http://myinclinevillage.com/2011/07/31/what-all-parents--students-should-know-before-enrolling-in-ib.aspx
Many have wondered why any superintendent and his faithful treasurer would try so hard to push such a thing upon a district where it seems most parents don't want it. In these types of cases, if the district ends up not renewing a superintendent's contract, there have been cases where that person has been escalated within the IB organization. Some of the tactics the IBers are told to use to thwart anyone who opposes the IB philosophy, especially in meetings with concerned parents, are those used by Scientologists. No, they are different, but some of the tactics are very similar.
1> Explain by example how they are a dictatorship? 2> What wasteful and unwatched spending? 3> Specific lies -- what when and where? 4> Favoritism! To who and when? 5> Mismanaged school system! In what documented way? Or is this just your opinion? If you respond please spare us the innuendo, heresy and your humble opinions. Please just give us substantiated facts. After all you are among those who have requested and received many public records. Surely all those public records requests have uncovered a smoking gun of deceit, corruption, lies. hidden accounts, frivolous spending and a wanton disregard for the needs of the majority of our students! Come on Donny -- it’s time for the big reveal -- its time for you to wake of the citizens. Show what you have Donny! If you do have the goods man up and lead the charge to buy out their contracts and fire the board members who hired them! IMHO it is time for those of you looking at the world through your butts to either put up or shut up – just sayin’
The TOK class questions are EXACTLY the types of questions I want my kids to evaluate: questions that go past adolescent "the world is black and white" thinking to foster CRITICAL thinking skills that (most) adults know are needed in the "real" world. The "proof" your link offers regarding student performance is based on on standardized test scores. I'm sure you know that there is considerable debate over the value of such testing, what can - and cannot - be tested, and the extent to which testing is narrowing the curriculum. Here is an entire site dedicated to exploring the pros and cons of standardized testing. http://standardizedtests.procon.org/. Inquiry-based learning is a significant positive. We don't need constant lectures facts are readily available and easily found. Real world jobs involve asking questions, evaluating situations, and solving problems. For those who don't know, doing a science fair project is an example of inquiry-based learning. Instead of being spoon-fed information, students ask questions and explore the answers in a hands-on way. Likewise, getting students to take action is a real benefit. I WANT my kids to know that they can make a difference in the world. It's called fostering leadership. Is IB the only answer? Not at all (and maybe not even the best answer - I never said it was). But sadly, too many Stow residents are against ANY ed change (look how many still grouse over Investigations) and THAT is the true tragedy.
Yadda Yadda –For Christ’s sake Donny you don’t need to explain it to me I already know the truth and I am very familiar with the game you are playing. Besides I actually read and understood the audited records. But please be so kind to enlighten the people out there that you want to wake up by dazzling them all the wrong doing you have uncovered. Or making bold statements followed by “just wait and see............” What kind of wimpy butt bluff is that? Donny you made the statements – defend them to the people you want to take action! Also, why would anyone just resign if they have a contract? Sorry dude -- if they go before their contract ends -- they go with wheelbarrows full of money. Angry -- you bet I am!! Nimrods slinging BS and lacking the stones to put their cards on the table really do make me angry. Gutless wonders!!
And Donny, I know you'll be looking in, my bad, Lori M is Lisa M.
I'm not involved with any political group, but what the administration and the levy committee have done has really opened my eyes and other people's eyes to see what they truly are. I hope change for the better can happen in time, but it depends on the board. Meanwhile, our children and their parents aren't reaping all the benefits they could be. Most of the teachers are caught in a bad place. You can't blame them for being careful. They must protect their job even if they don't agree with the leadership and the levy committee's lawyered-up tactics. If this kind of stuff continues and they keep trying to ram programs down parent's throats yet threaten to cut busing if a levy isn't passed, look for more students to be removed from this public system. I know some who've opted to move out of Ohio completely. Sad.
I've never said what you or the district administrators do is a "conspiracy". I've never really thought these things are secret. It seems plenty of people realize and are not pleased.
I have heard that there are about 20 people who oppose IB and most are not IT parents. How many parents are you talking about and what percentage of the parents would that be? "Most of the teachers are caught in a bad place. You can't blame them for being careful." Public perception is that tenure makes it impossible to fire teachers even when they are doing a poor job. Apparently, you do not feel this to be the case and that they, as professionals, are not set enough in their convictions to state their beliefs. Regardless, I think it's interesting that you feel qualified to interpret their feelings. What are you basing that on?
The thing that I think is encouraging to all is that the treasurer and super believe the district has enough funds to go forward with IB, as was plainly stated by the auditor when he stated the district has plans to expand IB district wide (they won't be able to fund that with all fed money, in fact the can't now). So, this is encouraging that we won't be threatened again with "if you don't pass this levy we won't have enough for all the bus routes". As far as people "hearing" there are only x number that don't like IB or are concerned about it that leaves a lot of room for doubt. It would be interesting if they were able to take an anonymous vote from citizens of Stow whether any funds can go toward IB or whether citizens believe the funds are better used for other things in the district. The vote would have to be without names or parents will be afraid of retaliation against their student as has been already reported. If we can't depend on the school board to bring this to a vote then maybe the citizens must decide at the ballot. But, the wording of the issue should be carefully done to show the funds have alternative use. Title 1 and 2 funds are not exclusive to IB.
Mr. Kent, perhaps people would take your concerns with the money more seriously if you didn't make statements like " they try to force things parents don't want" when that group of parents seems to be a super minority. A loud minority is still a minority. Or, perhaps if you didn't speak for teachers and families as if your beliefs are necessarily theirs, others would be more confident of what your true objection is to the program. "If we can't depend on the school board to bring this to a vote then maybe the citizens must decide at the ballot." I did cast my ballot when I voted for school board members. There were other people running who seriously opposed IB. They were not elected. I think that removes a "lot of doubt."
Now, back to the topic. Are you happy or disappointed with the board's decision to fail the resolution? Or, do you not have an opinion on the resolution? It's okay if you don't wish to respond, I'm just curious to your personal view on the topic above.