Truth About IB 2

A Stow Mom who removed her children from SMF schools in order to avoid IB, hasn't closed her eyes to the pervasive and invasive nature of the IB marketing. The four pages below are from the childrens' magazine Venture, sort of a Catholic version of Highlights.

Dear Dr. Jones, Ms. Bulgrin and esteemed members of the Board of Education,

As most of you know, I have been called “the most intelligent IB critic in the country” by Jay Mathews of The Washington Post. Back in June, 2011, one of your concerned SMF Moms contacted me with questions regarding IB and I have been following the situation in SMF ever since. It is impossible for me to be fully aware of all of the nuances and special issues that face individual public schools in these terrible economic times, however when it comes to costs surrounding IB, I am intimately familiar with the organization’s plethora of regulations and onerous fees which will be imposed.

Perhaps what I find most unsettling in SMF, is the mishandling of the IB implementation “process”. As demonstrated in this IBO video, it is clearly stated, “I don’t think a top down approach works”. Mr. Kennedy is correct. The top-down approach being used in SMF is not only not working, it has created a tremendous rift in your community.

With all due respect, Dr. Jones, you have either deliberately misinterpreted or incompetently attempted to circumvent IBO’s regulations. An initial feasibility was never conducted. Application A was submitted without approval of your governing body, the Board of Education. The public was pressured to pass a levy in November, 2011, at which point they were told IB would only be implemented in Echo Hills and Indian Trail, but that IB would be fully funded with grant money. Your citizens and now your newly elected BoE Trustees, have diligently attempted to put together a complete financial picture regarding IB. The AoS audit did not provide any financial data that was helpful, but it did make one thing perfectly clear - your intent to IB train SMF staff in ALL SMF buildings and money taken from the General Fund for IB.

Based on SMF’s past actions, it is clear to me that if, on February 13^th, the BoE votes to approve continuation of IB at Indian Trail, SMF administration will view that as approval to go ahead with IB districtwide. The fine SMF residents I have spoken to and become friends with over these past nine months are not stupid and frankly, are very upset and angry with being treated as 2^nd class citizens. By attempting to force IB into SMF every which way to Sunday, a situation has come to pass which does not “make the world a better place”, but which borders on civil war! Parents have pulled their children from SMF and placed them in St. Mary’s. Others are considering putting their homes on the market to be able to move to another district without IB. How can you in good conscience claim that you are working “for the children” and “for the taxpayers” when SMF parents are being forced to consider such drastic measures in this depressed housing market? How is that fair?

Therefore, I urge you to abandon your quest for IB in Stow-Munroe Falls public schools. Restore harmony in your community. Put an end to months of misinformation and misrepresentation of your intentions. In a district that charges tuition for full-day Kindergarten, imposes school fees and requires parents to Pay to Play, continuing this “rigorous” charade is unconscionable. IB is not fiscally sustainable in SMF (or any other U.S. public school, for that matter).

The time has come to make peace with your residents. On 2/13/12, I hope to see a recommendation from Dr. Jones to the BoE which will order the Termination of IB at Indian Trail, accompanied by a recommendation to abandon further “exploration” of IB districtwide in SMF for at least five years, not “at this time”. I believe Board President Karen Powers is on record regarding IB as saying, “All or nothing”. Nothing is the right choice. The time has come to end the angst. Restore SMF’s Excellent traditional public education and focus on what matters; quality academic achievement, athletics, drama, the arts and other enrichment opportunities - and leave the “values, beliefs and attitudes” to the parents.

Regards,
Lisa E. McLoughlin
Administrator of Truth About IB

"The program is expected to cost $15,000 to $16,000 to maintain every year"


Please review Appendix 6, Proposed PYP Implementation Budget (right) which was submitted to IBO as part of Application A for Indian Trail.

THIS IS NOT WHAT PATCH REPORTED

Date: August 24, 2011 9:20:09 AM EDT
Subject: Fwd: RE: Echo Hills Meeting on the 30th

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Jones, Russ" <ST_JONES@smfcsd.org>
Date: Aug 24, 2011 9:03 AM
Subject: RE: Echo Hills Meeting on the 30th
To: XXXXXXXXX "Bulgrin, Catherine" <st_bulgrin@smfcsd.org>, "Moore, Karen" <st_kmoore@smfcsd.org>

We are hosting an informational meeting about the PYP program at Echo Hills for Echo Hills parents. If other people attend we certainly will not object, but the intent of the meeting is to share information about the program with the parents at Echo Hills. The notification of the meeting will be sent to Echo Hills parents by Mrs. Martucci.

- Russ Jones