IB is gone

Ultimately, it was up to Osborne whether something was implemented.  The Board typically approved everything he recommended.

wharfrat said:

BaseballMom said:

Has anyone done an OPRA request to find our how much has been spent on Osborne's Folly?

And let's not forget those BOE members who made it all possible.  

 There were many people in the community who initially proposed and then heavily lobbied the school district to implement an IB program. So, to call this Osborne's Folly is mislabeling.

Thanks for the history lesson. Who was on the BOE when IB was proposed? Are those who approved it back then still on the BOE?

redheadgirl--I was at Monday's Board meeting. The IB discussion started at a ridiculously insane hour -- after MIDNIGHT, I believe!!!  Anyway, there was some discussion among the board that former member Marian Cutler (NOT ME ;-) was one of the main drivers of IB. Perhaps some people with a longer institutional memory than me can add more details.

Odd.

Marian Cutler has always been a strong opponent, not a driver, of IB.

Also, Marian is not a former BOE member. (She ran, but was not elected.)

My bad--I was at this meeting until 1:00 a.m. so my memory is a little hazy ;-) Sorry Marian Cutler!!!

What was said in fact was that Marian Cutler was an early sceptic and on her own dime and time visited IB Schools to investigate their suitability for our district.  She was the one asking for dollars and cents figures from the district when only vague assurances that "we would find the money" we're made.

I think the early proponent of IB was Marina or Marissa something. She used to post in MOL and write letters to the Patch or News Record.  If you're new you may have confused the M names. 

Of the current BOE, I believe Eastman and Daugherty were on the board when IB was proposed and approved.

redheadgirl said:

Thanks for the history lesson. Who was on the BOE when IB was proposed? Are those who approved it back then still on the BOE?

Yes - they were but Jeff & Madhu have been on for most of the implementation period. 

Holding meetings that go beyond midnight seems like a violation of the spirit of the Sunshine Law.

To be fair it should be acknowledged that during that time Bennett, Pai and Eastman were in the minority on the board often on the other side of many votes and often minority voices on committees.

I agree that they may have been in the minority but most of the votes where unanimous.  The idea of having one voice is hurting them now. 

I attended the BOE meetings where the "middle school transformation" was discussed and voted on.  Jeff and Madhu were not on the BOE and inherited it, like it or not.  To blame them for it now is pretty ridiculous.  Guess it's easier to criticize others than to run for the BOE and deal with the tough challenges presented by our district.

dave said:

Holding meetings that go beyond midnight seems like a violation of the spirit of the Sunshine Law.

 I don't think the intent of the law was that meetings should take place why the sun is shining.

chalmers said:

I attended the BOE meetings where the "middle school transformation" was discussed and voted on.  Jeff and Madhu were not on the BOE and inherited it, like it or not.  To blame them for it now is pretty ridiculous.  Guess it's easier to criticize others than to run for the BOE and deal with the tough challenges presented by our district.

This is completely accurate. The middle school "transformation proposal" was rammed through by BO the Great and Powerful and the pre-Pai-Bennett board in July. There was an election that November and every candidate was forced to accept that deleveling and IB were a done deal and we all had to "move on."

Just listening to the April 27 BOE meeting (now I remember why I don't do this).  Elizabeth Baker is objecting to the hasty termination of IB -- now that we've seen its challenges we can work through those challenges etc (this at about  4:00:00).  Bemoaning the "lack of data" to support the termination of IB.  Hilarious. 

tjohn said:

dave said:

Holding meetings that go beyond midnight seems like a violation of the spirit of the Sunshine Law.

 I don't think the intent of the law was that meetings should take place why the sun is shining.

 Really?  I had no idea.