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INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — In Mr. Cornell's guest column article dated Dec. 31, 2009, titled “International Baccalaureate needs to stay on schedule for Incline's schools,” he states: “Admittedly, I don't know much about IB …” but that doesn't stop him from wanting to “rush headlong” into implementing IB. This is the type of thinking that has gotten us into this IB predicament.
Important considerations: If Incline High School is compared to Aspen High School, eventually nine IHS students per year will be able to get the IB Diploma at a cost of about $1 million for the first 10 years. This is more than three times the initial estimated cost of less than $300,000, as stated in the Finance Subcommittee's final report included in the Incline Schools Reflective Task Force Committee's Report to the Superintendent. How many task force members would still support IB at more than triple the initial cost? Most districts that drop IB do it within the first 10 years after adopting and paying for it. We don't have teacher buy-in. One teacher has heard Mr. Borba, Washoe County School Districts Chief School Performance Office, say: “Teachers who don't run with the IB stampede could easily be transferred.” The school district wants us to have IB, but doesn't want to fund it.
Usually IB is implemented at failing urban schools as an optional program. If IB is implemented at IES it would be mandatory for all elementary school students. The WCSD has told me they will not provide busing to Reno for students whose parents don't want them in the IB program. IB may create a new category of people leaving Incline — people who can afford Incline but leave because of IB.
If IB is implemented at our elementary school, will the current GT (Gifted and Talented) program survive? Neither Kings Beach Elementary nor Tahoe Lake Elementary in Tahoe City offer a gifted program. Maybe Incline could attract some of Tahoe-Truckee gifted students if those parents knew we currently have a good GT program starting in the second grade. GT students typically take AP courses in high school.
I hope some of the high school teachers are wrong and the math and science departments won't suffer due to IB, and that we don't end up with a program that is inferior to what is currently offered — 16 AP courses, We the People, JROTC, AVID and other programs.
According to the College Board and the IBO websites — AP courses are designed to be “college level” courses while IB classes are designed to “prepare students for university…” The AP program is the most widely-utilized school-based academic program in the world. AP offers an International Diploma that wouldn't cost much to implement; was this alternative considered?
Some people hope we can raise and continue to raise all the money necessary to maintain an IB program, and still raise enough money for all the other proven and established education causes: ISAEF, CYMBAL, Star Follies, Golf for Education, to name just a few. What happens if the IB funds aren't raised?
I am concerned about the flawed process of IB implementation, raising and maintaining the necessary funds, downgrading our current program and failing to fully investigate all the implications before rushing headlong into IB. Some IHS teachers currently teach five different classes. Now they are being asked to teach a couple more IB classes (at the same time in the same room) as their current AP class. How can this be good for kids?
In its current form IHS is probably the best high school in the Tahoe Basin, and the best school in Incline. Why are we “fixing” the best school first? The immediate need is in the middle and elementary schools. The task force's objective states: “The ultimate goal of this task force is to make recommendations to the District for a plan that realistically reflects the educational needs of this community and how to best meet them in a fiscally responsible way.”
IB at IHS will not meet the educational needs of this community in a fiscally responsible way.
— John Eppolito is a father of four students currently enrolled in Incline's schools and a former K-12 teacher.
Important considerations: If Incline High School is compared to Aspen High School, eventually nine IHS students per year will be able to get the IB Diploma at a cost of about $1 million for the first 10 years. This is more than three times the initial estimated cost of less than $300,000, as stated in the Finance Subcommittee's final report included in the Incline Schools Reflective Task Force Committee's Report to the Superintendent. How many task force members would still support IB at more than triple the initial cost? Most districts that drop IB do it within the first 10 years after adopting and paying for it. We don't have teacher buy-in. One teacher has heard Mr. Borba, Washoe County School Districts Chief School Performance Office, say: “Teachers who don't run with the IB stampede could easily be transferred.” The school district wants us to have IB, but doesn't want to fund it.
Usually IB is implemented at failing urban schools as an optional program. If IB is implemented at IES it would be mandatory for all elementary school students. The WCSD has told me they will not provide busing to Reno for students whose parents don't want them in the IB program. IB may create a new category of people leaving Incline — people who can afford Incline but leave because of IB.
If IB is implemented at our elementary school, will the current GT (Gifted and Talented) program survive? Neither Kings Beach Elementary nor Tahoe Lake Elementary in Tahoe City offer a gifted program. Maybe Incline could attract some of Tahoe-Truckee gifted students if those parents knew we currently have a good GT program starting in the second grade. GT students typically take AP courses in high school.
I hope some of the high school teachers are wrong and the math and science departments won't suffer due to IB, and that we don't end up with a program that is inferior to what is currently offered — 16 AP courses, We the People, JROTC, AVID and other programs.
According to the College Board and the IBO websites — AP courses are designed to be “college level” courses while IB classes are designed to “prepare students for university…” The AP program is the most widely-utilized school-based academic program in the world. AP offers an International Diploma that wouldn't cost much to implement; was this alternative considered?
Some people hope we can raise and continue to raise all the money necessary to maintain an IB program, and still raise enough money for all the other proven and established education causes: ISAEF, CYMBAL, Star Follies, Golf for Education, to name just a few. What happens if the IB funds aren't raised?
I am concerned about the flawed process of IB implementation, raising and maintaining the necessary funds, downgrading our current program and failing to fully investigate all the implications before rushing headlong into IB. Some IHS teachers currently teach five different classes. Now they are being asked to teach a couple more IB classes (at the same time in the same room) as their current AP class. How can this be good for kids?
In its current form IHS is probably the best high school in the Tahoe Basin, and the best school in Incline. Why are we “fixing” the best school first? The immediate need is in the middle and elementary schools. The task force's objective states: “The ultimate goal of this task force is to make recommendations to the District for a plan that realistically reflects the educational needs of this community and how to best meet them in a fiscally responsible way.”
IB at IHS will not meet the educational needs of this community in a fiscally responsible way.
— John Eppolito is a father of four students currently enrolled in Incline's schools and a former K-12 teacher.
