Public to dissect IB on Monday

COEUR d'ALENE - Because they think open, public dialogue about the International Baccalaureate program has been squelched by Coeur d'Alene School District administrators and trustees, a group of community members is holding its own meeting.

The one-hour session is open to the public and takes place Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library.

"I hope we get some people that are new to the conversation and want information," said Duncan Koler, one of the meeting organizers.

At recent school board meetings, Koler and others have testified in opposition to the IB program at Lake City High School and the organization's Primary Years Programme at Hayden Meadows Elementary School.

Trustees have heard from a number of parents and teachers in support of the program as well.

All public comments made about the IB program during trustee meetings have been subject to the Coeur d'Alene School Board's strict policy of allowing three timed minutes per speaker.

In March, Koler asked trustees to place the IB program on an upcoming meeting agenda, along with a public hearing.

"We wanted to get information and open a public dialogue," Koler said.

The district advised Koler that trustees would not put IB on the agenda, but they would consider it within a planned public discussion about the Schools of Choice concept emerging in the district.

There are seven such schools, those with a unique focus or teaching style, in the district right now - Bridge Academy (credit retrieval alternative high school), Coeur d'Alene High School (Advanced Placement), Lake City High School (IB), Lakes Magnet Middle (health, science and the arts), Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities; Ramsey Elementary (science), and Hayden Meadows (IB's PYP).

Koler said his group views the district's action as an attempt to re-characterize the issue.

"It's a non-discussion now, and that disappoints us greatly," Koler said.

Trustees will have a public workshop on Schools of Choice May 17 in the auditorium at Lake City High School.

Superintendent Hazel Bauman gave an overview of the upcoming workshop at Monday's board meeting and announced that input from parents and patrons will be accepted in writing only, with no public testimony during the workshop.

Bauman said the format was requested by people on both sides of the issue who think "some of the debate has not been as civil as it should have been or could have been."

"We've got some hurt feelings. We have some sense of reprisals, maybe fear," Bauman said.

"I know we'll get some criticism about that methodology of a workshop, but frankly, there were many people who we met with who would not come to the workshop if it were going to be any other way," Bauman said. "We want you to hear what the concerns are, what the positives are, and if we can't get people to workshops because of a sense of impropriety, then we're not really getting a true read of what our patrons and parents are thinking."

Koler said he was surprised to hear that.

"I don't think this has come from anybody on this side," Koler said.

At Monday's meeting, Koler said his group hopes to avoid any kind of contentiousness.

He said they have invited the school board trustees and the teachers.

There will be three or four presenters, he said: "Nobody famous, just people who have done some research. We hope to have room for questions and answers afterward."