I was a member of the Stow-Munroe Falls School Board when Russ Jones was hired as superintendent. Early in his employ, we conducted a board retreat. The main focus of this retreat was to review and enhance the Strategic Five-Year Plan. To our surprise, one of Dr. Jones’ first presentations included a film expounding on the merits of the IB Programme (International Baccalaureate). We were puzzled that the newly hired superintendent, with little knowledge of the district and its finances, was proposing a new direction of instruction.

After a brief discussion of the IB Programme, the board members had several questions. First, would this curriculum be available to all students? Dr. Jones replied affirmatively. Second, what would he estimate initial costs to be? Jones replied that start-up costs would be about $20,000. Finally, at what level would this instruction begin? Jones stated that it would be initially offered at the high school level, and if funds became available, it would expand to lower levels.

The board felt that the costs incurred in implementing a new course of study were prohibitive. We also agreed that the district offered many advantages to gifted students (Advanced Placement and Honors courses, the OASIS program, etc.), and even though the superintendent maintained that the curriculum was suited to all students, further examination did not bear that out.

The board members cited these concerns and the matter was dismissed. Further research validated our position. For my remaining tenure on the board, IB was not a topic of discussion.

I was very concerned, therefore, that the IB Programme was being quietly implemented at Indian Trail Elementary, with little if any public discussion and no board vote. I wrote to the Stow Sentry in October 2010 expressing those concerns. Questions regarding the curriculum during board meetings have gone unanswered and controversy has continued to grow.

Contrary to the superintendent’s initial presentation, IB start-up costs are significant. In addition to application fees, teachers must be trained, with the costs of food, transportation, lodging and conferences included. Dr. Jones has publicly stated in a board meeting that these expenses would be covered utilizing ARRA (American Recovery & Reinvestment Act) and Title I funds. But, as many other area school districts understood, those funds could be used more prudently to maintain staff levels, improve student achievement and many other supportive measures. According to ARRA guidelines, “These funds should be invested in ways that do not result in unsustainable continuing commitments after the funding expires.” As a former board member, I continue to see no way this program can be sustained and expanded without additional funding from the community.

Unfortunately, the objections raised concerning IB have resulted because there has been no communication with the public. Costs have been understated/hidden and concerns have been ignored.

Keep in mind our biggest objection to the International Baccalaureate Progam(one section of which is referred to as “PYP” (Primary Years Program) is the high costs of bringing it into SMF Schools.  We cannot see blowing the many dollars for this program when we have to charge pay-to-play fees and can’t bus our highschoolers.

Here are some websites to visit to learn more about the costs to the taxpayers and some of the shady behaviors noticed at the Echo Hills meeting to explain I.B. to parents.

http://stow.patch.com/articles/ib-school-program-discussed-at-echo-hills

http://ibo.org/events/slcpyp12311/

http://www.ibo.org/iba/become/newprocess/documents/DPAug-SeptEng_001.pdf

John Eppolito

1:36am on Thursday, September 1, 2011

Stow Citizens for Responsible Government Viewers:
 
My name is Rhonda Custer.  I am the unofficial truthaboutib.com contact for Stow-Munroe Falls and the parent seen on the video of the last BOE meeting.  Many people have worked countless hours to research and request information to assist local citizens in understanding the concerns associated with International Baccalaureate.  We hope that you are now familiar with the cost, lack of academic improvement, extreme ideology and indoctrination, and lack of both feasibility and sustainability of the IB PYP.  ARRA and Title I grants will run out.  Without additional funds, the IB PYP plan for Stow-Munroe Falls deteriorates!
 
As we continue to denounce IB implementation as unnecessary, ridiculously costly, and potentially detrimental, we are often subjected to the Delphi Effect:  criticism, threats, and character assaults.  Until now, I have chosen to simply ignore that which is so obviously ignorance or desperation.  Now, though, I believe that there is a genuine threat to our cause.  So, I have no choice but to defend the purpose for which we stand:  IB Moratorium Now!
 
There is a movement to berate those that question IB as “negative, mean-spirited, and angry”.  Furthermore, such “negativity” is allegedly risking passage of school levies and putting Stow-Munroe Falls’ property values in peril.  Rest assured, we who question the worthiness of IB for SMFCSD do not look poorly upon our schools and neighborhoods.  On the contrary, we support the excellence that is already in place and hope to preserve that which we love about our schools and our community.  SMF is a beautiful, friendly slice of small town America.  Our traditional family values are on parade every July Fourth.  Our children are among the most successful learners in the state.  We question not our schools; but our schools’ need for IB…and we find IB unfit!
 
We have communicated both information and our objections to IB to the SMF BOE & administration, and state and local government.   Our mission now is only to convince others to do the same.  Those with questions are encouraged to contact me via the link on the SMF truthaboutib.com web page.   
My hope is that anyone who visits stowidiocracy.com or  truthaboutib.com  will join our cause- POSITIVE that our teachers can already supply all that their students require, POSITIVE that America is still exceptional, and POSITIVE that fiscal responsibility is always the right course.  Life in Stow-Munroe Falls grants so many blessings.  Protecting them is necessary, not “negative”!

At the 8/8/11 Stow-Munroe Falls School District Board meeting, the Board refused to answer several questions concerning the International Baccalaureate program being instituted in the school district.  After virtually ignoring questions such as “When will the Board hold open discussions about I.B.?”, the Board president continued to dance around many other questions.

Other questions were answered in a stock pattern:  “You are welcome to come to the Board office to discuss it”.   One person asked about her verbal Public Information Request from March, 2011, at a meeting held at Indian Trail School and was given no answer as to when the request would be fulfilled.
The following video shows only the portion of the meeting set aside for public questions/answers. You may watch the entire Board meeting by calling 330.688.8297. We will gladly make an appointment with you to view the entire video. 

The speaker at the beginning of the clip is hard to hear.  The board’s response is normal volume, as is the rest of the video.

 

THE COSTS OF THE

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM

Although we doubt that the following information reflects a total amount spent on IB, we have this information gleaned from records of the School District.  We also  know that this is not the final funds to be spent on the IB program.  Around Sept. 29, 2011, team 8 will be traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah for their training.  This also means that like the other training sessions, we are paying for substitute teachers and who knows what else.

ADMINISTRATIVE TRIP – Superintendent and Board members to Chicago, Illinois, Feb. 5-8, 2010

                We have not determined the costs involved with this trip

 TEAM 1 – 10 people, May 8-11, 2010, Tampa, Florida

                $7650.00 IB Registration

                $2351.00 air fare to Tampa

                $310.00 shuttle from Tampa airport

                $5006.40 hotel rooms

                $938.75 food

*TOTAL:  $16,256.15 for team

 

TEAM 2 – 8 people,  June  22-24, 2010, Atlanta, Georgia

                $6,200.00 IB registration fee

                $1,923.20 air fare to Atlanta

                $355.00 air fare for Superintendent

                $105.00 shuttle from airport

                $20.50 shuttle from airport for Superintendent

                $2,640.45 hotel rooms

                $501.40 hotel room for Superintendent

                $997.53 food

*TOTAL:  $12,172.88 for team

 

TEAM 3 – 8 people, Sept. 22-24, 2010, Orlando, Florida

                $6,200.00 IB registration fee

                $2,115.20 air fare to Orlando

                $238.00 excess baggage

                $264.00 shuttle from airport

                $4,293.12 hotel rooms

                 $1037.61 food

*TOTAL:  $14,147.93

 

TEAM 4 – 8 people, Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2010, Miami, Florida

                $5,400.00 IB registration fee

                $2,936.80 air fare to Miami

                $120.50 baggage claim

                $125.00 baggage fee

                $48.00 parking fee

                $5,453.49 hotel rooms

                $966,52  food

*TOTAL:   $15,050.31

 

 TEAM 5 – 12 people, Dec. 10-13, 2010, Cincinnati, Ohio

                $8,100.00 IB registration fee

                $160.00 shuttle to Cleveland airport

                $2,015.30 air fare to Cincinnati (7 people flew -5 drove their own cars and dined on their own (reimbursement fees are not shown here)

                $175.00 baggage fee

                $160.00 shuttle from Cincinnati airport to hotel

                $5,202.74 hotel rooms

                $956.69 food

*TOTAL:  $16,769.73

 

TEAM 6 – 4 people, Feb. 10-13, 2011, New Orleans, Louisiana

                $2,900.00 IB registration fee

                $3,583.20 air fare to New Orleans

                $100.00 baggage fee

                $152.00 shuttle to hotel

                $1,913.27 hotel rooms (only two charges are shown, nothing is shown for the two other participants)

                $421.64 food

*TOTAL:  $9,070,08

 

TEAM 7 – 10 people,  May  8-10, 2011, Tampa, Florida

                $8,745.00 IB registration fee

                $3,146.10 air fare to Tampa

                $500.00 baggage fee

                $570 shuttle to hotel

                $5,006.40 hotel rooms

                $2,099.48 food

*TOTAL:  $20,066.98

 *Totals are approximate since we are not aware of such things as reimbursements for those traveling and dining on their own, costs of substitute teachers to cover the trainee’s absences and accuracy of receipts requested under the Ohio Open Records Act.

Below are one of seven training events held in various localities around the country.  Generally speaking, you would possibly have to multiply these expenses by seven to approach a total expenditure for the training.  This does not include future training sessions nor more of the various fees the IB program likes to charge.

Please note the cost of the hotel rooms (individually) and the nifty dinners at the taxpayer’s expense.  And after all this, the school still had to ask for a waiver on the late fees from the credit card company.   Would that work for you?

 

If you have never taken a look at Stow Patch’s web site here is a link that will take you directly too it:

http://stow.patch.com/announcements/school-levy-aug-2-2011

Due to an overwhelming response to our website (some from other states) you may be experiencing lags in the time it takes for your computer to load the website or log-in to leave a comment.  There is nothing wrong with your computer or the website.  We are proud and thankfull that so many of you are visiting us!  PLEASE BE PATIENT.  You may try loading or logging-in at a later time.  WE WELCOME YOUR VISITS AND YOUR COMMENTS.  Also, would the guy in the white van please stop stealing our signs.  Witnessed by two people, unfortunately, we were unable to get a license plate number.  Some witnesses suspect that the van is owned by a local institution.  We’ll be watching and we do plan on prosecuting.  (In case you don’t know it, stealing signs is considered a crime.)

For those of you that are visiting us for the first time, you must register in order to log-in.  Click the registration button under the log-in window.  We only ask for your email address so that we may contact you if we find a problem with the post.  We do not need your name!  You may register with any name or “handle” you wish.  The password you enter is yours alone and you should write it down somewhere so you can comment again in the future.   THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION whether or not you leave a comment, but we hope to see your opinion in print soon.

DID YOU KNOW….?

There is no school record of the School Board approving and adopting the International Baccalaureate Program curriculum.

 There is no school record of School Board meeting minutes showing any community meetings that were called to explain I.B.

 There is no school record of parental meetings at Indian Trail or Echo Hills to explain the I.B. program.

 There are very few school records showing the payments made for the training expenses of personnel for I.B.

 There are a few school records showing the payments made for the travel, food and lodging for administrators and trainees for I.B.   Most payments are hidden as credit card payments without any known itemization.

 If you wanted to learn more about I.B. and possibly remove your child from participating in the program you must have investigated it yourself and notified the school by June 1, 2011.

 That even if the money being used to pay for I.B. is coming from ARRA (federal stimulus funds) the costs beyond the funding will be carried by the local taxpayer. 

 There is no school record indicating the School Board’s approval to spend the stimulus or any other funds for I.B.

 Evidently the taxpayer’s of Stow and Munroe Falls are left to surmise that the Superintendent is acting entirely on his own and the School Board does not see the I.B. program as important enough to be bothered with it.  Or, possibly, maybe the Board doesn’t know how to reign in expenses and control their employees, a major part of what they were elected to do in our opinion.

 Is this what a new ten year, 6.5mil levy is going to get us?  Have you even been notified of the levy vote coming up?  A few selected residents of the city received a nice post card from the levy committee to remind them to vote.  The rest of us are being left in the dark in the hope that a light turn-out will pass the levy.

  WE URGE YOU TO VOTE ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 2, 2011, AND REMIND YOUR NEIGHBORS TO VOTE TOO.  IT’S IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF US.