While the School District is pressuring the taxpayers of Stow-Munroe Falls for a new 10 year levy at 6.5 mills, the costs for the International Baccalaureate Program mount.

According to the IB application Form A, the school to be under consideration to join the program must pay $75,100.  This fee is just to apply for consideration.  So far Indian Trail Elementary School has paid $9,500 for the “consideration phase” and will soon (if not already) spend another $9,500 for the “candidate phase”.    The “candidate phase” is expected to cost Indian Trail School around $46,000.  If approved, the school will be charged another $32,000 to sustain the program.  These amounts are subject to change because most of the paperwork has not been completed. 

 In addition to all the fees, the training also costs a bundle.  So far the school district has shipped teachers and administrators to such places as Chicago, St. Petersburg, Florida, Atlanta, Georgia, Orlando, Florida, Miami, Florida, Cincinnati and New Orleans.  In addition to travel expenses (paid for by the taxpayer) there is a $765.00 registration fee.  The Chicago trip included the Superintendent and some School Board members.  So far, about 40 school district employees and board members have made the trip to far off places for training.  These figures do not include the current teachers/administrators being trained nor the future trainees.

 Indian Trail School began the process in September, 2009, and has been implementing the candidate phase since June, 2010.  The final phase includes a school visit by an IB inspection team, no doubt at taxpayer’s expense.  If the inspection is favorable, the school becomes authorized to offer the program and attains the status of “IB World School”.  The school will then be re-inspected in three years and then every five years thereafter (at taxpayers’ expense, of course).  There are no refunds offered if the school fails any of the inspections.

 The contract, signed by the Principal of Indian Trail School, reminds the administrators that any dispute with the contract must be finally settled by three arbitrators in accordance with the Rules of Arbitration of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Geneva, Switzerland.  The arbitration is supposed to be confidential, contrary to our “sunshine laws”.  At least the arbitration process is conducted in English.  This whole process, of course, will be charged to the taxpayers.

 Below is a chart showing the current and proposed budget just to implement the IB program at Indian Trail School:

To: M. McKenna, Editor, Stow Sentry

I attended the Stow-Munroe Falls School Board meeting on June 27, 2011. I asked questions about children attending Indian Trail School with the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Echo Hills School which will be starting the IB program this fall school term.

My main question concerned parentsd who did not wish their children to be involved with the IB program; could they transfer to other schools within the district. I also inquired as to the availablility of bussing for the transferred children. The Superintendent assured me that, yes, children could be transferred and they will be bussed.

What he failed to mention was that no parents were informed that the deadline to apply for a transfer was June 1, 2011. REALLY!!! How above-board is this on the part of the administration and School Board to infoorm the general public?

I implore those of you with children in elementary schools in Stow to do some research on the International Baccalaureate curriculuum. For more information go to www.truthaboutib.com.

Geraldine Bettio, Stow

To: Stow-Munroe Falls School Board

Everyone:

Yesterday eevening was my first BOE meeting-ever! I came to listen…and to learn. Our time together raised some more questions, but no answers. With all due respect, I am writing for a RESPONSE from one of You, please.

I am assuming that you are all genuine in your assertion of “transparency”, That said…Have you ,the Board, formally voted the IB Programme into effect at each proposed school? At what meeting/on what date or dates? Is this vote in your minutes? Have you formatted a course of action for implementation and perpetuation in accordance with the NEOLA articles you were governing under at the time? Where is that plan and when was it constructed and ratified? Can I obtain a copy of that plan

Do you assert that you have made your IB intentions public knowledge? If so, when, and in what forum? Is that announcement also in your minutes? Can you explain how operating this program at one or two elementary schools can be considered fair and equitable to the remaining seven in our district? What will you do if mandates to comply with IB place demands on the budget that you cannot afford for all schools?

I have expressed my concern regarding the philosophy espoused by IB. What proof can you provide that my concerns are ill-founded? Besides IBO.org! Have you seen data that academic test scores improve after IB—where can I view that? Who is the original pitch man/woman for IB in SMF? Did the BOE approach IB or vice versa? How long has this been in discussion? How many parent meetings have you held? Did you conduct a community survey? Do you have mayoral or city council support? How did you identify the need for new curriculum at Echo and Indian? Do you perceive this need elsewhere…and how will you address it without IB? Ethically, do you not feel a parent/community meeting is necessary BEFORE you run the Programme in August? Are you scheduling one?

Is the mission statement next year genuinely the “global” reference I have seen? If so, why are PARENTS no longer referenced in that purpose and view? Should Title 1 and ARRA money run short, how will the Programme be funded? What do you estimate overall cost to launch and run the IB in 2011-2012 at Indian Trail to be, including teacher training,application fees, textbooks….EVERYTHING/

I am seeing that the IB recommends teaching only a global view until age twelve. Only THEN, should national history be introduced. How will you resolve this dissonance with State mandates…without compromising either side?

I am learning much about International Baccalaureate. The more I ponder, the more questions arise. I guess, however, that such is the nature of IB. I have many more questiions, but the list is already very long. I suppose I should apologize. Yet, I genuinely wish for one of you to answer each,individual question posed. Please, do not take offense. As the leading representatives of the community, I am certain that you understand the need for clarification. If there is something you cannot answer, simply tell me why the answer eludes you and point me to whomever might assist.

I recognize that you are in the midst of negotiations; I wish you well. I also know, though, that my questions should be easy for you to answer. After all, you seem convinced in your cause and confident in your course. Please don’t fail me in responding in a timely fashion. Ignorance is really NOT bliss.

Thanks as ever. Tami Carlisle

The International Baccalaureate program, operated out of Switzerland, is causing great concern among SMFSD parents and citizens in general.  Our investigation of the program pointed out exactly what others already discovered in other cities.  Many school parents were never notified that such a program was being implemented.  Many School Boards were never notified that the program was being implemented in their school district.  Many Superintendents of school districts outright lied to their district’s citizens and school board about the start-up costs and implementation of the program.  For now, we will let you judge for yourself.  Is such an expensive program justified in today’s economy?  Is such a program necessary for education in the United States today?  Why all the secrecy?  To start your journey to understanding what may be one of the most expensive educational fads to come down the pike since DeNealian handwriting, we offer the following web site:

http://truthaboutib.com/usschooldisputes/stowmunroefallsohio.html