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INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Support for implementation of International Baccalaureate at Incline's public schools is gathering momentum, judging by the most recent community seminar hosted by the Washoe County School District.
The meeting, which took place Thursday, March 11, at Incline Elementary School, was decidedly less attended than the Feb. 4 meeting of a similar nature.
Deputy Superintendent of the WCSD Pedro Martinez gave a presentation regarding how IB aligns with the district's goals of making Incline Village “one of the best campuses in the nation."
The meeting also featured a presentation from elementary school teachers about how the program would fit into the daily educational regime, a presentation from IBIV — a local nonprofit dedicated to raising $630,000 for teacher allocations necessary to a successful implementation of IB — and a question-and-answer period which followed the presentations.
The question-and-answer period did not feature many questions, however, as attendees used the opportunity to offer opinions on the merits of the program — or the lack thereof.
Incline resident Kesia Parkhill, who recently moved from Florida, where she says an IB-oriented kindergarten routinely receives more than 1,000 applications for 136 spots in the school, said during the meeting she was surprised to hear negative comments regarding the program.
"I've never heard anything negative about IB until I came to Incline Village," she said.
Kevin Taylor, assistant principal at Incline High School, voiced support for IB implementation.
“I am retracting a previous statement I made about IB and AP not being able to coexist in a small school,” Taylor said. “Since making that statement, the district has made clear its commitment to funding both IB and AP and providing high school students with the choice to pursue either.”
Martinez has repeatedly vowed to keep AP classes in tact.
"We want to maintain the best of what we have," he said during the meeting.
Some parents feel IB is not a good fit for Incline.
John Eppolito, a father of four students currently enrolled in the district and a former K-12 teacher, has emerged as a leader of the movement to slow implementation.
During the meeting, he told Martinez a major problem with IB in the lower level schools is that all students are forced to participate, essentially eliminating parent choice from the process.
Martinez said he would schedule at least one more community seminar in April. The exact date is to be announced.
“I thought the meeting went really well,” said Martinez, following the seminar. “You still have a very vocal group of people who are not in favor of IB, but judging by the applause following comments, most people that attended tonight think IB is right for Incline.”
The meeting, which took place Thursday, March 11, at Incline Elementary School, was decidedly less attended than the Feb. 4 meeting of a similar nature.
Deputy Superintendent of the WCSD Pedro Martinez gave a presentation regarding how IB aligns with the district's goals of making Incline Village “one of the best campuses in the nation."
The meeting also featured a presentation from elementary school teachers about how the program would fit into the daily educational regime, a presentation from IBIV — a local nonprofit dedicated to raising $630,000 for teacher allocations necessary to a successful implementation of IB — and a question-and-answer period which followed the presentations.
The question-and-answer period did not feature many questions, however, as attendees used the opportunity to offer opinions on the merits of the program — or the lack thereof.
Incline resident Kesia Parkhill, who recently moved from Florida, where she says an IB-oriented kindergarten routinely receives more than 1,000 applications for 136 spots in the school, said during the meeting she was surprised to hear negative comments regarding the program.
"I've never heard anything negative about IB until I came to Incline Village," she said.
Kevin Taylor, assistant principal at Incline High School, voiced support for IB implementation.
“I am retracting a previous statement I made about IB and AP not being able to coexist in a small school,” Taylor said. “Since making that statement, the district has made clear its commitment to funding both IB and AP and providing high school students with the choice to pursue either.”
Martinez has repeatedly vowed to keep AP classes in tact.
"We want to maintain the best of what we have," he said during the meeting.
Some parents feel IB is not a good fit for Incline.
John Eppolito, a father of four students currently enrolled in the district and a former K-12 teacher, has emerged as a leader of the movement to slow implementation.
During the meeting, he told Martinez a major problem with IB in the lower level schools is that all students are forced to participate, essentially eliminating parent choice from the process.
Martinez said he would schedule at least one more community seminar in April. The exact date is to be announced.
“I thought the meeting went really well,” said Martinez, following the seminar. “You still have a very vocal group of people who are not in favor of IB, but judging by the applause following comments, most people that attended tonight think IB is right for Incline.”
