UPDATED: Noon on Wednesday, March 3

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — An Incline parent is weary of school district meetings where he said officials repeat the same general buzzwords without discussing the particulars of International Baccalaureate.

“They are not answering the difficult questions,” said Incline resident John Eppolito, a father of four students currently enrolled in the district and a former K-12 teacher who has emerged as a leader of the movement to slow implementation of the program at Incline's public schools.

For this reason, Eppolito organized an IB “informational meeting,” scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, at the Incline Village Library.

“I am concerned with what IB is doing to our community,” Eppolito said in a recent e-mail. “People on both sides of this issue need to keep something in mind, we are not enemies. We all want what is best for the children of Incline.

“IB has divided communities across the country. I truly hope that does not happen in Incline.”

Eppolito said he recently met with Washoe County School District Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez and Public Information Officer Steve Mulvenon and came away frustrated.

“The district still hasn't answered why they selected the most expensive and most controversial program available. Some of the specific questions about whether AP classes will be taught together with IB should have been addressed before they asked the public for a nickel,” Eppolito said.

District officials came away equally frustrated from the meeting, Martinez said.

Instead of answering questions and concerns about IB, Martinez said he Mulvenon but received “value judgments about IB” — or statements questioning the program's goals, both educationally and politically — from the parents in attendance.

“I was there to help Mr. Eppolito and the other four parents that attended understand the district's position, but it became clear early on they were not there to listen,” Martinez said.

Martinez said feedback he received was IB is unequivocally bad for Incline students and it fails to “properly represent traditional American values.”

“We agree with John on one very fundamental point,” Mulvenon said. “Everyone wants the best experience for the students of Incline Village. Where we apparently part company is on the issue of how to get there.”

People can read more at Eppolito's IB-induced website at www.myinclinevillage.com.

Look for a recap of the Eppolito's meeting online at www.tahoebonanza.com.

Bonanza web poll resutls A recent poll conducted at www.tahoebonanza.com asked readers: “Do you support the implementation of International Baccalaureate at Incline's public schools?” Below are results after 496 votes. North Lake Tahoe Bonanza polls are random and unscientific, and voters can respond to the same question more than once from different computers. • No. What's wring with the current education system at Incline's schools? — 312 (63 percent) • Yes. This program will help combat declining enrollment. 155 votes (31 percent) • I need more information about it before I can say for sure. 29 voters (6 percent)