INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Amid a summer of much change at Incline's schools and doubts from some residents that the school district isn't concerned with community and teacher buy-in regarding International Baccalaureate, officials this week said the program will begin in late August.

Washoe County School District Assistant Superintendent Pedro Martinez said the district recently received confirmation from International Baccalaureate Organization staff that all three schools are on track for the application process.

All three Incline schools will incorporate elements of the IB curriculum into their respective programs beginning next fall, with full integration into the Incline Elementary School and Incline Middle School scheduled for 2012.

“Starting next fall, elements of IB will be taught in the elementary and middle schools,” said retired Wooster High School Principal Serena Robb, hired by the district to coordinate IB implementation at Incline schools. “The following year we will continue to roll aspects of the curriculum into schools with the goal of a full IB authorization in September of 2012.”

This year's incoming freshmen at IHS will be the first class eligible to participate in the IB Diploma, which begins in 11th grade.

Robb said the timeline is confusing because the implementation of IB curriculum into the classroom occurs prior to the schools' obtaining full authorization.

Martinez said the district has authorized three and a half teacher allocations for the upcoming school year, but the hiring has yet to be finalized.

“We want to give our principals the autonomy to make hires,” he said.

Incoming Incline High School principal and K-12 administrator Stacey Cooper will arrive at Incline Village in early July. Once she arrives she will have the latitude to make hires and other changes in advance of the upcoming school year, which begins August 23.

Cooper's focus as K-12 administrator will be on daily operations at the high school, but will also have added responsibilities of aligning district resources throughout the three schools, setting a vision for the entire Incline campus and helping coordinate IB implementation, according to previous interviews with Washoe County School District Deputy Superintendent Pedro Martinez.

“We feel we're on track,” Martinez summarized. “The next steps are to hold two community forums in July while continue to monitoring the IB application process.”

The 2010-11 school year begins with the first day of school on Aug. 23.

Community meetings on tap Washoe County School District officials said two community meetings are planned for the end of July. The district will introduce incoming principal Stacey Cooper at one meeting; in the other, officials will meet with parents of incoming freshman to explain specifics of International Baccalaureate. No dates have been firmed up. Stay tuned to www.tahoebonanza.com throughout early July for exact dates.