When IB opponent John Eppolito learned that Washoe County School District's Communication Department received an award for its "exemplary efforts to enhance communications between schools, parents and the community", he was quite appalled at the hypocrisy. During John's year and a half battle with the school district over its attempted forced takeover of Incline Village schools with IB, communication between WCSD and those opposed to IB was nothing but hostile, elusive and misleading.
The document at right details the expenses of this "award winning" department.
November 2, 2011 - It took Jay Mathews quite awhile to release this Class Struggle column, but John Eppolito finally got to see a portion of his 14 point bulletin describing why IB is not a good fit for American public schools, published in the Washington Post. Be sure to read the comments that follow.
The IB Hangover
April 3, 2011 - Following the March 30th decision by WCSD not to pursue IB in Incline Village, MYNews4 and Bill Manders gave the victory coverage: No IB in Incline Village & Bill Manders (start at the 39:45 mark) There are still some open questions regarding the money raised by IBIV and the money spent by WCSD on IB. Will IBIV get back the $80,000 it donated for IB? The MoU agreed to was so poorly written we wouldn't want to be the judge to decide that issue. What 2010 grant did Morrison get? How can a grant be retroactively applied to something other than its intended purpose? Why is there no mention in the MYNews4 story of the overwhelming support for an elementary science teacher?
For those interested, the final survey results (which should have been conducted BEFORE a single dime was ever sent to IBO) can be found HERE.
VICTORY! MORRISON FORMALLY ANNOUNCES IB WILL NO LONGER BE PURSUED FOR THE SCHOOLS OF INCLINE VILLAGE!
TAIB has had Incline Village listed in the "Rejected - pending" category for far too long. Today, March 30, 2011, is a day that will live in infamy. Today represents what freedom in America really means. However, this victory would not have been possible without the courageous, tireless and passionate efforts of Dad of 4, John Eppolito. John just told me this year and a half long battle against IB was one of the worst experiences of his life. He was called a sabatoeur (among other names), legally harassed, took time away from his livelihood, started a website, wrote guest columns for the local paper, spoke at Board meetings, prepared the Power Point located below, held meetings for the community and through it all, behaved like a perfect gentleman and Dad. I am so proud and grateful to John and his wife Theresa for leading the battle against the forced IB takeover of IV schools, K-12.
HERE is the full article in today's North Lake Tahoe Bonanza.
March 25, 2011 - Prior to the March 31st deadline for WCSD to learn of its "Great Schools Committee's" recomendations, parents of Incline High School students received a newsletter advising them of "How Will the IB Program Work?"
This is absolutely outrageous. The school is not authorized as an IB World School. The district has not laid out the $3,500 for the IB site team to visit. The taxpayers have not been paid back by IBIV. Obviously, the Great Schools Committee was a complete and utter fraud from the get go.
Please view the official document at (left).
March 21, 2011 - The document to the right is the legal response from WCSD's Counsel issued to John Eppolito in response to his recent FOI requests for information.
February 11, 2011 - That's right! This is still the United States of America and the power of the people to demand transparency and accountability from their public officials cannot be more beautifully demonstrated than the effect of the recent radio ads run by The Committee to Fix Washoe Schools. Congratulations to those Nevada patriots who got together to embarass WCSD into doing the right thing.
The Guest Column the NLTB Chose Not to Publish (submitted 1/21/11; 1:21 PM)
Almost a full year has passed since the NLTB published my guest column.I have followed every detail of the IB issue in Incline Village and documented WCSD and IBIV’s every move at Truth About IB. What I have observed are the most egregious, outrageous and offensive actions ever undertaken on behalf of IB in the United States. Those actions, conducted by a small private group of private individuals and district administrators to forcefully impose a controversial program K-12, have not only divided the community, they continue to divide despite a failed fundraising attempt which in and of itself, is legally questionable. The recent barrage of letters to the editor by pro-IB supporters just goes to show that these ideologues refuse to employ critical thinking skills. They refuse to recognize their failure to “convince” opponents that IB is the best thing since sliced bread. They refuse to accept the fact that the majority of IV residents involved in this debate are unwilling to fund IB independent of their school property taxes. Common sense tells us that ALL parents want the best education possible for their children. It’s time for the insults and character assassination against those who oppose IB to stop and stop now!
The NLTB recognizes that now is the time to “go back to the drawing board”. I agree. Mr. Morrison’s secret committee holding secret meetings already top heavy with pro-IB district officials, is not the answer. The Envision Report is nothing more than an educational CYA and must be totally discounted when it comes to IB in IV. Claiming that IB will be implemented in the high school despite all of the public opposition demonstrates how Morrison is completely tone-deaf and fiscally irresponsible.
If IB supporters really want what’s best for the children of Incline Village, they will drop their futile IB crusade and come back to the table with an open mind to come up with fiscally responsible options which do not include IB. There are many creative, academic options such as Core Knowledge, AP, CLEP, dual enrollment and others which do not carry the political/philosophical baggage and expense of IB. Let’s have a new Task Force with meetings open to the public which operates on consensus and takes a look at the current state of IV schools, evaluates areas of concern to be addressed and arrives at a fiscally responsible course of action which everyone can agree will benefit the children of Incline Village.
Reno Educational Conference - Eppolito Presents Power Point
Great job, John!
Keep up the good fight!
IB Halted - Maybe
January 14, 2011 - The mad dash to force IB into the three Incline Village schools over objections from the community came to a screeching halt on Monday, January 10th, sort of. A meeting hosted by Superintendent Dr. Heath Morrison, which can be viewed below, made it clear to the public that IBIV had not only failed in its efforts to raise the "adjusted" $150,000 as per the MoU, but that the district expects IBIV to come up with the $65,000 balance to reimburse WCSD for the $150,000 paid for by taxpayers to date. Morrison indicated that a new MoU would be drawn up and that IBIV would not be held liable for the 11-12 and 12-13 school years to the tune oof $300,000.
Morrison is convening a committee (top heavy with administrators) to come up with a plan as to how to improve IV schools, issuing a March 31st deadline. He indicated the application process for the PYP and MYP would be immediately "delayed", but that the district still plans to go ahead with the Diploma Program, albeit perhaps as a online option. The 2013 Online DP option was proposed by John Eppolito as a compromise in order to oust IB from the elementary and middle schools. A firm is being hired to prepare a parent survey and Morrison promised focus groups and community forums.
It is unfortunate that Morrison is giving IBIV two and a half more months to attempt to sway public opinion and raise funds for IB while still going forward at the HS level. IB opponents must not let down their guard or their vigilence and must present fiscally responsible alternatives for school improvement. Now that a private local TV station is on the case, WCSD will be held accountable and won't be able to get away with saying one thing and doing another.
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#1 Story of 2010!
January 4, 2011 - TAIB agrees. The outrageous attempt by WCSD, along with the private interest non-profit IBIV to force IB into Incline Village public schools K-12 was not only the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza's #1 story, but TAIB's as well. TAIB was welcomed into the IB debate in IV at the tail-end of 2009 by John Eppolito. Our year-long communication and collaboration has resulted in what TAIB considers a memorable friendship and hopefully, a victory for freedom.
Unfortunately, THIS STORY does not have a final conclusion, as yet. Eppolito and 335 other signers of a petition against IB anxiously await the outcome of the 1/4 and 1/10 meetings scheduled between WCSD, IBIV and Eppolito's group. Unresolved is the matter of who is picking up the tab for money already expended on IB by WCSD, a complete accounting of those expenses, and a final decree abandoning pursuit of IB by the district.
TAIB expects the "final answer" to those issues by mid-month. It is inconceivable, in light of the unprecedented popular uprising, negative publicity and poor economy, that WCSD will press the IB issue in 2011. The IB issue consumed Eppolito's life in a way he never thought possible. God bless Eppy and his lovely wife Teresa for coming forward to lead the charge against IB in IV. The time has come to allow them to return to their lives as teacher, Realtor and parents and to be able to send their children to their public schools free of UN indoctrination.
IBIV Fails to Meet Fundraising Deadline!
December 31, 2010 - Today is the day IBIV, the pro-IB group in Incline Village, is supposed to cough up $150,000 as per the terms of the MoU signed with Washoe County School District. According to THIS ARTICLE in yesterday's North Lake Tahoe Bonanza:
"... cutting a $150,000 check to the school district by the end of the year is “obviously unrealistic.”
Unfortunately, these IB zealots seem unwilling to accept defeat.
Porten said Wednesday that IBIV members have a scheduled meeting with WCSD officials on Jan. 4, where the two organizations will devise alternative strategies and formulate methods to address the fundraising shortfall.
If Heath Morrison has a shred of integrity, he will meet with IBIV on January 4th, 2011, and hand them back a check for any money collected from IBIV and spent by the district on IB to date. Morrison should pat them on the back and tell IBIV, "Good try, but sorry."
Enough is enough. WCSD has divided the village of Incline for an entire year over this IB issue. It's a New Year. The district needs to review the original charge the Task Force was formed to address: "to increase enrollment". Enrollment increased, so is that charge even relevant? IV needs to define specific areas of weakness in its K-12 schools and tackle those problems instead of rushing to buy a UN bandaid, a bandaid which merely covers up the festering wound.
IBlasphemy
December 26, 2010 - On Christmas Eve, TAIB was shocked to read THIS ARTICLE written by Incline Village Principal Kathleen Watty. The pro-IB group IBIV is up against a hard deadline of December 31st to raise $150,000 to meet the terms of the MoU. To compare the charitable lessons taught by Jesus on the eve of His birth with fundraising for IB is not only beyond the pale, it demonstrates the epitomy of cognitive dissonance on the part of IBelievers.
"Tolstoy's question comes from the Book of Luke: “Let the man who has two coats share with him who has none, and let he who has food do likewise.” ... [SNIP] ...International Baccalaureate Incline Village continues to raise funds to support the implementation of the IB program and ensure that certified teachers are trained on the requisite frameworks. Teachers at IES have now just finished the Level I training in the Primary Years Programme thanks to our community's financial partnership. So here's my wish for this giving season, and for all of us. Let's remember Tolstoy's question. Let's keep our eyes open to those in need, even when it would be easier to turn away."
The arrogance and audacity of a school administrator seeking to line the pockets of a socialist, anti-Christian, anti-American organization, is simply unconscionable. If Principal Watty had guided the community of IV in fundraising for homeless children in Reno or set up scholarships for the children of wounded warriors, we would know she understood Jesus' message. But instead, her advocacy for this foreign organization and teacher salaries (which should be paid from the General Budget to begin with) demonstrates deep rooted confusion.
TAIB has recently received copies of IB's TOK course guide, courtesy of Ann Marie Banfield from Bedford, NH. It will take TAIB a little time to download and compile the documents which will be assembled HERE. When assembled, you will clearly see how IB promotes Relativism as a "superior" means of "knowing" to absolutism and how IB denigrates Intelligent Design. It is the ultimate hypocrisy of the secular Left to advocate an IB course which encourages disbelief and questioning of religious beliefs, while running to the ACLU when a prayer is said before a football game. This hypocrisy must be exposed and this practice must be stopped in American public schools.
TIME FOR IBIV & MORRISON TO SURRENDER!!
December 17, 2010 - With exactly two weeks till the 12/31 deadline for IBIV to pay back the Washoe County School District $150,000 for the implementation of IB K-12 in Incline Village schools, despite numerous e-mail pleas and fundraising efforts, IBIV is still $76,000 short. According to THIS ARTICLE in the North Lake Tahoe Bonanza however, the district is still mindlessly sending teachers to IB teacher training, oblivious to the fact that SOMEBODY (taxpayers?) needs to foot the bill for these expensive three day junkets for a program 2/3 of the community doesn't want.
Take a cue from Harry Reid and the Omnibus spending bill, WCSD. Kill the IB pork NOW! Don't drag this debacle out into January, 2011. Even if by some miracle IBIV comes up with the $150,000 this year, what guarantee do you have that they are going to come up with $300,000 for the next two years? And what of the years after that?
It's over. Go back to the drawing board. IB has been soundly rejected by all but the zealous few. Give your community a Christmas they'll remember and come together to support an educational system that EVERYONE can support and agree with.
"Battle plans never survive first contact with the enemy." ~Heath Morrison on the Bill Manders Show
November 27, 2010 - Anyone involved in the IB controversy over the past year has certainly felt as though they were involved in a war. After being questioned about the controversy surrounding IB in Incline Village, Washoe County Superintendent of Schools Heath Morrison stated resolutely; "We are in the implementation phase", followed by the headline quote for this article which he said was "one of his favorite sayings". Prior to this bombshell, Morrison expressed confusion as to why anyone would object to a UN program in the schools since "The U.S. was one of the founding members of the U.N" and "the U.N. is housed in the U.S." He had no idea when the UN became a "bad" thing, to which Bill Manders replied, "Sometime in the 1950's". (segment is towards the end of the broadcast)
I think we need to analyze Mr. Morrison's headline quote. We need to get inside his head. Does he view the district as the one creating the "battle plans" since it is conducting the "implementation phase? Or does he view the opposition to IB as the ones creating the battle plans? If the latter, then Morrison has declared the district the "enemy" of the people. If the former, Morrison has declared the people, "the enemy" of the district.
It is disgraceful that a well-paid Superintendent is "ok" with either the school district or the people being viewed as "the enemy". Perhaps Mr. Morrison needs to be reminded that you the people, pay his very generous salary.
TAIB is going to interpret Morrison's quote as an admission of defeat. His implementation of his IB battle plans have met "the enemy" and they will not survive. The North Tahoe Bonanza has reported that the pro-IB fundraising group IBIV only has $50,000 in the bank of the $150,000 it is supposed to hand over to the district for IB by 12/31/10.
Morrison considers taxpaying American Moms and Dads, "the enemy". TAIB considers every brave soul who stood against Morrison's IB battle plans, a patriot and a hero. Please read the response TAIB received from the IB Consultant Morrison hired to implement his battle plans HERE. Perhaps Mr. Morrison should become acquainted with one of our favorite sayings, "Know when to fold 'em!"
September 29, 2010 - TAIB is awaiting word from Incline Village of the results of yesterday's Board of Education vote to "approve International Baccalaureate" for Incline Village schools. We are not optimistic, based on the Board's previous behavior, that the concerns of these fine parents, taxpayers and teachers were given any consideration whatsoever. The total disregard for objections to IB from concerned citizens of Incline Village who have conducted themselves professionally, thoughtfully and peacefully for the past nine months, is reprehensible. (10:45 AM EST - The Board voted unanimously to go forward with IB and presumably strongly encouraged 20-25 elementary teachers to attend the meeting to speak or stand in favor of IB)
The following video is from the August 24th Board meeting. While it is amusing to listen to a Board President whose voice uncannily resembles that of actress Kristin Chenoweth, the disdain Ms. Guitterez holds for these concerned citizens comes across loud and clear. TAIB would like to commend David Simco for his incredibly eloquent public comment, as well as all of the other freedom fighters who were brave enough to stand and speak with John and Teresa Eppolito. Whatever the outcome, having fought not only WCSD but the local media which conspired with WCSD, TAIB commends and thanks these fine Americans for standing for liberty. Please watch the following video from the August 24th Board meeting (Click on the link for the video - IB comments begin with the third public comment).
TAIB would also like to take this time to rebut the IBIV speaker. He makes the ridiculous assertion that the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are "endorsed" by the UN. Here we have the typical pro-IB argument which fails to differentiate between International and American organizations. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the Girls Scouts of the United States of America are NOT the same as the World Organization of the Scout Movement, which is an NGO of UNESCO, just like IBO is an NGO of UNESCO. This disingenuous attempt to disguise the UN agenda by incorrectly naming national youth groups many parents hold near and dear is deeply disturbing and typical of the dishonesty that accompanies IB. Rotary International (an adult organization) is an NGO of UNESCO. But the school board should not conflate adult organizations with those of children.
Even if WCSD voted in favor of IB yesterday, the final outcome will not be known until December 31, 2010, when the public will learn whether or not IBIV actually raised the amount it "promised" to pay back to WCSD.
You have fought the good fight, Incline Village residents. You have TAIB's respect for questioning with boldness and standing with honor. Hold your heads high, be proud, and know that in the end, what goes around, comes around. WCSD will soon regret its irresponsible actions. TAIB is just sorry that these Progressives are so cowardly as to use tyranny to attempt to co-opt the children of our country for their misguided worldview.
John Eppolito was Bill's special in-studio guest for the September 2nd radio broadcast regarding IB in Incline Village. Lisa McLoughlin phoned in. (begin at the 1:12 minute mark)
Apparently, the discussion so incensed Mr. Manders that the following day, he aired his own passionate views on IB. Thank you, Bill. (begin at the 40:00 minute mark)
IB Petition War
September 2, 2010 - Despite a request from parents to maintain the privacy of those who signed the petition opposing IB in IV, the names were released to the Tahoe Bonanza and some were challenged by IB supporter Tom Bruno on the grounds that phone numbers provided were "unlisted". One cannot blame many of those who have been brave enough to stand against IB for wanting their names withheld. Intimidation and slander of those opposed by those in favor has resulted in angry division of this once bucolic lakeside village.
It is important to note that those in favor of IB also created an online petition which has not been mentioned by the Tahoe Bonanza. The pro-IB petition of 65 names is obviously a complete fraud. Whoever created the petition had the nerve to sign my name, not once, but twice! Perhaps the pro-IBers will try to claim those of us opposed to IB created the petition to make them look bad. This is a specious claim. John Eppolito and the 307 other residents who partook in an honest effort to petition their government, are being mocked and ridiculed by faceless fraudulent cowards in the name of IB.
Check back HERE for the 9/2/10 podcast of Bill Manders' radio interview with John Eppolito.
EDUCATION PROGRAM STIRS CONTROVERSY IN INCLINE VILLAGE KOLOTV.COM
Forgery of Lisa McLoughlin's signature
August 9, 2010 - Incline Village father of four, John Eppolito, has put together an informative Power Point presentation which should cause anyone with the least bit of common sense to respond to the question, "Is IB a Good Fit for IV?" with a resounding, NO!
Having been named as one of the alleged spewers of "egregious" misinformation and spin about IB, I feel compelled to respond to Mr. Gurowitz's recent column. Ed begins by whining to the tune of 250 words (fully a third of his column) about John Eppolito's facts being inaccurate, full of omissions and spin. However, Ed is only able to find 14 words out of 732 worthy of disputing. Screaming "Liar liar pants on fire" does little to enhance the IB cause. In fact, a big thank you to Mr. Gurowitz for his column by handling his response in this manner. He has basically conceded that the other 718 words written by Mr. Eppolito are indeed, the truth.
Unfortunately, Ed's spin on IBO's affiliation with UNESCO simply doesn't negate the FACT that it exists. IBO has bent over backwards to repeatedly attempt to deny and cover-up its integration of UN Millenium Goals into every aspect of IB curriculum and frameworks. Why? Because the UN Charter and the UN Declaration of Human Rights are NOT one and the same as our U.S. Constitution. President Ronald Reagan withdrew the U.S. from UNESCO and it was unfortunate that George W. Bush misguidedly rejoined our country with this corrupt organization. How quickly one forgets the Food for Oil scandal with Kofi Anan, a good friend and ally of former IBO Director General George Walker. It was only upon Walker's retirement and Bush's rejoining of UNESCO that IBO has made the inroads it has into our U.S. public schools. Even with this additional political clout, out of the 96,000+ public schools in the United States, IB schools (1,310) represent 0.013%, by anyone's standards, a radical, fringe element.
IBO specifically brought in American Jeffrey Beard to replace Walker to quiet the anti-American allegations against IBO. Beard was the former VP of Syngenta, a firm which bioengineers grain. He is without any expertise in the field of education, but people like Gurowitz can point to Beard's affiliation with the Naval Academy. "See? He was in the U.S. Military! He can't possibly harbor anti-American ideals!" Mr. Beard's cushy job with IBO earns him over $500,000 a year in salary and benefits along with three homes, one in Maryland and two in Europe. IB was developed by UNESCO, it was and still is partially funded by UNESCO and the first 10 IB schools were all UNIS.
And yes, if this UN affiliated educational program is granted implementation in Incline Village, IV's littlest residents will be forced to endure daily UN brainwashing in the PYP. For you see, the PYP is not a curriculum. It is a framework of "themes" layered on top of your Nevada state standards. Rather than enrich academics, the PYP supplants state standards with UN philosophy. There is but one elementary school in IV and IBO mandates that the PYP be implemented schoolwide, ergo, choice to opt out of IB indoctrination is eliminated.
So you see Mr. Gurowitz, even those 14 words you chose to dispute, were fact. Many in this country believe the blue helmets should enjoy the fate of the defunct League of Nations. However, as a self-professed admirer of Saul Alinsky and everything Progressive, it is no wonder you are such a fan of IB.
American public schools should be secular and apolitical. IB is THE most expensive and controversial educational program on the market. And riddle me this: exactly when did the Task Force become the IB Task Force? The IV Task Force's original charge was to figure out a way to increase enrollment. Your district's tyrannical threatening, intimidation and tone deaf battle to force these unwanted programs on the entire IV school system is the most outrageous, egregious and offensive effort I have witnessed in the entire United States. Last time I checked Nevada had 14% unemployment and the highest foreclosure rate in the country but who cares, right? So what if Mr. Lee's original $400,000 for 10 years estimate really works out to be $4,600,000+, right?
IV doesn't have the money to pay for IB and the majority of IV residents don't want IB. Before Ms. Cooper begins her new career as Principal in IV, it is time for the district to do the right thing and abandon its paranoid push for this divisive, ideological program and allow the children of Incline to begin the new schoolyear without this cloud of controversy hanging over their heads.
June 24, 2010 - On May 26, the Tahoe Bonanza announced, "We Be Tired of IB". It appears that after a month long nap, the folks at the Tahoe Bonanza now realize that this is still a very controversial and unsettled issue. Recharged from its biased journalistic hiatus, today the Bonanza announces, "IB - With 2 months until school begins, "things are still up in the air".
No! Really?
And as a real teaser, the TB promises a fundraising update, an IB interview with outgoing HS Principal John Clark and an interview with lead IB propagandist WCSD Assistant Superintendent Pedro Martinez. We can hardly wait!
Controversial Principal Hired
June 6, 2010 - Incline Village school officials announced on Friday, June 4, that the district has hired Stacey Cooper, of Mansfield, Ohio, to fill the shoes of retiring high school Principal John Clark, effective July 1, 2010.
According to this article, Cooper was awarded a three year contract as the Superintendent of the Adams County/Ohio Valley school district which she resigned from after one week. Her "reason" for her resignation was that the job just "didn't feel right" and that she wanted to be closer to her daughters. Cooper denied that her resignation had anything to do with her 2009 legal troubles when she was arrested for a traffic incident in which she plead guilty to "reckless operation and failure to control". In exchange for the plea, an "impaired driving charge was dismissed".
There are a number of comments following the article from parents which were removed by the editor of the paper for alleged violation of terms. Chances are these comments weren't exactly complimentary and considering the first comment received five recommends, parents in Incline Village might want to do a little investigating on their own regarding this woman's reputation.
School District to IB Opponent - Shut Up and Go Away! First Amendment Doesn't Apply to Washoe County Schools When it Concerns IB.
Letters the Tahoe Bonanza Refused to Print
Brent Welling to Friends & Bonanza 5/16/10
Friends:
For about a year I have been investigating and performing my due diligence regarding the proposed implementation of the IB (International Baccalaureate) program in the Incline Village schools.
My conclusion is a vociferous "NO" and my reasons are numerous. Here are only a few of them:
1) Wooster High School in Reno (near Costco) is the only public school in Nevada to have undertaken this program and by every account and statistic it has been a dismal failure. To my knowledge, the only other IB school in Nevada is a private elementary school in Las Vegas. No data is available from this school.
2) A large number of schools in the United States which had implemented IB several years ago are now dropping the IB program as rapid as they can. Their remarks about the program are rather scathing and candid.
3) The IB program was originally founded in Geneva Switzerland as an "International School Program" and their hope was it could provide an education program that various countries could implement so the children of ex-patriots (corporate personnel, consulate employees, etc.) could have a better school to attend than those offered by the country's public school. This was particularly important for executives from various countries who were temporarily stationed in 2nd and 3rd world countries or in countries where their native language was not spoken.
I became personally aware of the program in 1978 when I was asked to take a management position and move my family to Hong Kong. Before I moved my family to Hong Kong, I spent three weeks in Hong Kong to make sure it would be a good move for my family. I spent several days with the headmaster, the teachers and students at the International IB school and I attended several classes. I discovered the IB program was more "touchy feely", " we are the world", United Nations like approach that focuses more on a 'sustainability' and "can't we all just get along" curriculum. Nothing wrong with teaching children to have a sensitivity to other cultures and societies, but math, physics, and the sciences were relegated to 'an afterthought' mentality. I did not like the fact that Math and Science were not main-stream topics and the course offerings were very minimal. English, French, and Spanish were the major languages taught and I remember thinking at the time it might be better and more useful for the students to learn the language of major world powers, such as German, Russian, Japanese, or Chinese Mandarin.
4) The IB program and the currently very successful high school AP programs are in conflict with each other and most smallerschools that adopted the IB program were forced to drop their AP programs. In my opinion, the AP program is far superior to the IB. IB is not as widely accepted at universities as the AP program.
5) IB is very expensive: large annual fees to the IB Foundation in Switzerland, new texts and curriculum, teacher training and certification, etc. Even the student tests are not free. These additional IB expenses must be borne by the community (aka Incline Village fund raisers, direct parent 'donations', and Washoe County says they will chip in using some of your tax money - - - yeh, right. Under severe budget cuts in WCSD . . . wanna bet?).
6) In my opinion, the initial interest in the IB program arose in an effort to attract more students into Incline's public school system because enrollment has been declining. If implemented, perhaps more students from around the Lake would enroll and come here every day because we emphasize the IB program is really rigorous. Particularly, maybe we could steal more students from Lake Tahoe School because they have a rigorous (and much better than IB program too).
7) We currently have and pay for excellent schools and terrific teachers here at Incline. We have a terrific track record for graduating superb high school students that go to top university and colleges in the country. We now have sport programs that may fall victim to an IB program. Do you really want to pay more $$$ for an inferior program that might supplant the AP program? I don't.
Perhaps you have been following the recent Bonanza and Reno papers with a small spot-light focused on the " To IB or not To IB, that is the question". Are you still confused? I am not. I have attached a URL to a petition now being circulated and I hope you will sign it and pass it on to others in the community who are concerned about the education program in Incline Village.
We can not allow the IB program to be shoved down our throats.
Of course, you may pass on my comments if you wish.
We delivered the petition (NoIBinIV) to the WCSD board last PM. As you probably have guessed getting 265 people to sign up to anything in this community is not easy. We feel that the number of signatures verifies the results of the poll your paper ran. The majority are not in favor, the money has not been raised, and in all probabliity John's first amendment rights have been violated by the district. I now believe Heath's uber loyal communication director got the lawyer to send the cease and desist order. She is a true believer of the nth degree (Heath's type).
If Kevin plans to move on to objective stories about implementation at this point he might be interested in the fact that step 2 hasn't been taken yet. The WCSD board has not voted up or down. So objectively;
1) The feasibility study was skipped
2) The board has not voted
3) The money has not been raised
4) The majority of residents aren't for it
5) People are pulling their kids (only the non vote has kept the number down)
6) Other schools are informally recruiting IV Finally, I still haven't got an answer how two guys just in from back east who don't live here know exactly how the Village is thinking? I hope Kevin hasn't decided that their ESP outweighs everything else?
Regards,
Willy Krusell
Jay Mathews to parent May, 2010
Dear Kathryn--- My view is that the two programs [AP and IB] are the gold standard for US high schools. I have a SLIGHT preference for IB because of the longer and deeper exams and the extended essay, I would NOT recommend a school dump AP if that program is thriving. It would be a lot of energy spent for very little positive gain. But I am not there. You and the IB supporters are, and you know the school better than I, and should decide what works for you. The latest numbers from your AP program show great participation rate and a passing rate of 64 percent, which is just about perfect, since it shows you are letting kids struggle with AP and sometimes fail. Please keep me in touch with this, and feel free to send this message to whomever you like and invite them to write me back. ---jay [mathewsj@washpost.com]
Listen to the Teachers!
May 19, 2010 - One of the things TAIB has noticed across the United States when a district seeks to implement IB, is the unusual absence of "input" from the majority of the teachers. There never seems to be a survey of opinion, in fact, the teachers who oppose IB, are often threatened by administrators with transfers or other "consequences" if they dare to object. In the case of Cherry Hill, NJ, when IB came under fire, the Superintendent required a 70% approval of IB by the teachers in each school to continue the program. The teachers in Cherry Hill HS West ousted IB and now offer a strong selection of AP courses. The following letter comes from Incline Village HS, Nevada, and demonstrates some solid research conducted by its AP teachers. TAIB is going to reprint the letter in its entirety as this factual, non-emotional letter clearly shows that trying to combine IB with AP results in inferior scores and success.
Guest Column - IHS Faculty Wary of IB (North Lake Tahoe Bonanza)
We at Incline High School have worked hard to build up our AP program and, as a result, over the years we have had an impressive number of students accepted to prominent colleges and universities. We have been told on numerous occasions by students who have returned to visit us that our classes – particularly AP classes – prepared them well toward success in their college courses.
Washoe County School District, sensing our concerns, has assured us that we will not lose our AP program. They have told us we can teach both AP and IB together, and have pointed to Wooster High School as an example. So, how has Wooster fared? Some previous data they have given out looked promising, but could have been the result of creative number crunching. What we were interested in was the breakdown of AP scores alone, but it was difficult to get that specific information from Wooster.
Recently, several of our faculty visited with their counterparts at Wooster. One of the questions we were interested in was how well AP and IB classes could be taught together. When talked to privately, Wooster teachers confided that, although their classes are purportedly both AP and IB, they primarily teach the IB component. These students are then required to take the AP test, which presumably allows the school to claim an AP/IB program.
That could be acceptable if the IB curriculum adequately prepares the students for the AP equivalent. But how can you assess that without AP testing score data? Fortunately, we have recently acquired that information from the last two years, and the results are interesting, if not sobering.
AP scores range from 1 to 5 with 5 being the highest possible score. A score of 3 is considered “passing,” but some colleges require a score of 4 or 5 before a student can be awarded college credit for specific subjects.
Let's begin with the English language and English literature tests. IB's strong suit purportedly is its liberal arts program, so one might presume this program would prepare students well for the AP equivalent. However, our students have consistently passed at or near 100 percent. In comparison, Wooster's best passing percentage within the last two years was 47 percent (for English Language), with its worst at 27 percent. Their English Literature scores were consistent at 45 percent. Less than 4 percent of all of these tests scored a 5.
As one might expect, our AP government scores, most certainly due to the success of We The People, average a very respectable 80 percent over the last four years, with 40 percent earning a 5 last year. The 2009 scores for Wooster were 39 percent passing, with a 29 percent figure for 2008. There were no 4's or 5's. Similarly, our U.S. hstory scores last year yielded an 81 percent passing rate, while Wooster weighed in at 56 percent last year and 47 percent the year before.
Although the bilingual component of IB has been a big sell, the average passing rate for AP Spanish over the last 2 years was less than 48 percent, with a 37 percent average passing rate for French. Our average passing rate for Spanish? Yep, higher — around 60 percent on the average.
How about science and math? The state average for chemistry and biology AP scores is an abysmal 2 and 2.5, respectively. Our AP chemistry students achieve a passing average of around 70 percent to 75 percent. Last year, six of those tests scored a 5. Last year, Wooster recorded a 33 percent passing rate, without a 5. Biology at Incline has averaged about 65 percent over the years, while Wooster acquired a consistent 15 percent passing rate over the past two years. Our calculus AP scores average around 60 percent while 48 percent of Wooster's students passed the test in ‘09, and 57 percent in ‘08.
When making these comparisons one thing to remember is that our scores are coming from a very large percentage of our junior and senior class (we allow sophomores to take AP human geography, by the way, and had 18 percent of the class earning 5s last year). Wooster's scores are coming from a small percentage, compared to their student population. Consider the fact that this is a magnet school for the entire Reno area and therefore presumably in possession of a large and elite brain pool, and the picture begins to look very dismal for Wooster's AP/IB program. Is it any wonder that a large majority of our faculty is hesitant about implementing IB?
— Steve Brown is a science and AP teacher at Incline High School.
INCLINE OFFICIALS EXPOSED - EXCLUSIVE!
April 30, 2010 - TAIB wants to give a big high five to our IB Watchdog in Incline Village for questioning with boldness by filing a FOIA with the Washoe School District to produce the district's three applications to the International Baccalaureate Organization. These three documents are presented below.
All Washoe County taxpayers should pay close attention to the misinformation that residents have been told by Incline school officials. The documents are lengthy and we will let you judge with your own eyes whether the information contained within aligns with the information Incline residents were told at the IB public forums and reported in the Tahoe Bonanza. TAIB contends it does not. Points of contention:
1. No feasibility study was conducted for the PYP. 2. No PYP implementation plan is included with the application. 3. The DP application's financial planning section is not present. 4. The DP application states the school anticipates 15 full IB Diploma candidates in the first two graduating classes. (It should be noted that Incline HS currently has at least 2 AP courses with 21 and 22 students enrolled) 5. Full DP candidates will have qualifications to meet to participate in the program. 6. ALL MYP students will be expected to participate in the program. 7. Tracking will be eliminated at the MYP level (no advanced/Honors classes) 8. District represents that it will pay IB fees and IB teacher training costs. 9. District severely underestimates cost of IB teacher training. 10. District mentions "generous community" which will help with fundraising, but provides no set financial goal. 11. On the PYP application it states that the district does NOT have intentions of implementing IB in any other schools.
There may be other contradictions which TAIB has missed. Please feel free to contact us if something jumps out at you and we will add it to the above list. It is absolutely unconscionable that school officials have already wasted over $100,000 on this educational scam. Please use this information wisely and demand a halt to wasteful spending, obfuscation and backroom deals. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!
INCLINE VILLAGE IB PROPAGANDA VIDEO HITS YOU TUBE!
03/19/10
"The best education money can't buy"
REALLY??????????
What in the World is Happening in Incline?
This beautiful, bucolic ski village on the shores of Lake Tahoe is in turmoil. Neighbors are being pitted against neighbors and friends have stopped speaking to each other. Why? Because of IB. What is going on in Incline has to be the worst example of conflict over IB TAIB has witnessed since the ACLU lawsuit in Upper St. Clair, PA. We hope it doesn't come to that, for the sake of the community and the children.
The local paper is the Tahoe Bonanza. Up until 02/11/10 when the Tahoe Bonanza reported the reason for the cancellation of the IB forum as the "inability" of the "con" side to "finalize" panelists, the paper appeared to be trying to present a "balanced" perspective on the issue. However, the paper also features an extremely left-wing columnist by the name of Ed Gurowitz who is rallying for the pro-IB cause. A request for an impartial moderator of the forum was denied by the Tahoe Bonanza. IB has overwhelmed the local paper as THE most divisive and controversial issue of the day. TAIB will attempt to keep readers updated with links to the articles from the Tahoe Bonanza and eye-witness reports from Incline residents.
