INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Some residents are questioning the validity of a $210,000 financial deal between the school district and a local private nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for the implementation of International Baccalaureate at Incline's public schools.

The Washoe County School District this week confirmed it will expend $210,000 to pay for 3.5 teacher allocations for the 2010-11 academic year for Incline's schools — with the caveat that the full amount must be reimbursed by International Baccalaureate Incline Village by Dec. 31, 2010. IBIV is a recently established nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for the implementation of IB.

“IBIV is currently raising money and the district has said they would be willing to provide enough funds to cover whatever shortfall may occur and seek reimbursement once the necessary donations are collected,” said Steve Hull, Chief Communications and Public Affairs Officer for the WCSD, in a Tuesday phone interview.

Hull's comments confirmed a recent e-mail obtained by the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza, from WCSD Superintendent Heath Morrison and Assistant Superintendent Pedro Martinez, which stated: “Going forward, we are estimating that the ongoing costs for IB and the costs to maintain existing programs (music and PE of which the community currently raises funds for) will be $210,000 annually ... The District will provide the additional positions to our Incline schools for the 2010-2011 school year and will be reimbursed by IBIV at the end of this calendar year.”

IB requires a physical education, foreign language, art and music component to the curriculum. The $210,000 will be used to hire teachers to fill the 3.5 allocations to teach those subjects.

Incline resident Teresa Eppolito, who opposes IB in Incline, said the money could be used to fund music, art and physical education without having to implement a program she believes will not help increase graduation rates or reduce achievement gaps.

“The cost of annual IB application fees is $10,000 per school,” she said. “The district treats IB as some sort of cure-all, but it's the same textbooks, the same teachers, and we're just not going to get enough bang for the buck. We could be using that money to fund PE teachers, a full-day kindergarten and Spanish teacher.

“The district is not using money wisely.”

Other residents are criticizing the district for not entering in a formal contract with IBIV, saying $210,000 is too much to let ride on a verbal agreement or a handshake.

“What happens if IBIV can't pay the district back?” asked Incline resident and Teresa's husband John Eppolito, who also opposes IB, in a written statement.

Hull said the district will formalize a contract or a memorandum of understanding once the financial expenditure nears.

“We've discussed that in concept,” Hull said Tuesday. “When the time to spend the money arrives, we will reach some kind of arrangement with IBIV, and have something in writing (regarding the finances).”

Singing a different song?

Margaret Martini, an Incline resident opposed to IB, said she has attended many IB forums in Incline Village and meetings in Reno and said district officials present a different message depending on the audience.

“When they're up in Incline, they talk about their unwavering commitment to IB, saying they will pay for the program even if IBIV can't raise adequate funds,” she said. “When they're down in Reno, they tell people the only way Incline will get IB is if the community pays for it. It really shows how the district is willing to say whatever to get support for their agenda.”

Hull said those accusations are unfounded.

“It's disconcerting to hear that,” Hull said. “You may agree or disagree with IB, but the district has been absolutely consistent in its message and its support of implementing the IB program in Incline schools, whether in Incline Village or in Reno.”