This article failed to point out that some parents have enrolled their children at Streams into the IB program simply for a matter of socialization. Otherwise, their children would have the same students in their classes year to year for 5 years. For this very reason, Dr. O'Toole even commented that in order to have all IB at Streams, he would need a commitment from parents that if the conversion goes through, that parents will still leave their children in IB. This article didn't mention that a total of SEVEN students graduated with IB diplomas this year. Dr. O'Toole ESTIMATES that the IB costs the School District $300,000 per year!

What am I missing here? The IB program only helps our reputation as one of the top districts in the nation. People move here because of what USC offers thereby increasing our property values. Is it really such a hardship for students to go to a school a mile away? It seems it would be better for them to be with other students not in the program for "socialization".

Special Ed students at the middle school level are not able to take IB. Why is there discrimination at all? If it is a case of the iep being implemented in a non traditional classroom and the services are portable why not?

Mary, why is it that you suggest IEP students are not able to participate in the IB program at the Middle School. I know of a number of students with IEP's that are enrolled in the program presently.

Please check your facts

I have to agree with USCMom, I have no problem for those who want the IB program but my children started at Streams with both classes being a choice. I just want the option to finish out the 4th grade in their comfort zone instead of causing undue stress in uprooting them to a new school. :(

As Dr. O'Toole and Dr. Bulazo stated at the meeting, fees for the PYP (elementary school program) cost $7,400 per year for licensing/fees. Currently, 317 students are in the PYP, with an additional 44 students on waiting lists. Those 44 are in the traditional classrooms, which are considerably smaller classrooms. Another 150 or 175 kids are in the PYP as 5th graders at Boyce. (I don't know the exact number, but it is half the 5th graders.) So the cost for the PYP is negligible in a budget the size of USC school district's.
I will concede that there are, no doubt, families who put their child in IB simply so that they aren't "stuck" with the same kids in traditional classrooms every year. Ironically, this used to be the drawback of choosing IB. When my 11th grader started IB, there was only one class so she was "stuck" with the same kids. We worried that this would be a negative, too.
I can certainly empathize with the concerns of parents who don't want their "traditional classroom" child to switch schools! That would be rotten! (In that situation, I'm sure I'd choose IB rather than a change. I can't imagine explaining to your child why you want them to switch schools vs. being in IB. I have yet to hear what the negatives of IB in elementary school are.)
At the meeting, the Administrators certainly agreed that there is no way to do this to make everyone happy. Phasing in means some families would have siblings at two different elementary schools.
Steph Harris

Any chance that everyone can act like adults about this? Some of you sound completely paranoid. "Anti-American"? "socially engineering"? We are not nazis. My children are IB. They are so excited when they come home from school and have great stories about what they learned that day or what they will be learning this year! Its a great opportunity for them. So I like the IB program and my children do too. That is what matters to me.

Lisa, I don't know Erika but i must come to her defense. To my knowledge, Lisa has never been to Upper St. Clair, let alone sat in a classroom at Streams. I have complete faith in the principal and teachers at Streams, and I can absolutely assure Erika that those fine teachers are not trying to indoctrinate her children into a "globalist cult". Nor are they being "indoctrinated by NWO groupthink".

Erika, like you, I feel lucky to have my children in such a warm, caring, wonderful atmosphere at Streams. Lisa, all I feel for you is pity for the hatred that consumes you and makes you feel the need to involve yourself in the affairs of a school district that is hundreds of miles away.

Lisa:

Let me first say that I am not a proponent of the IB program. I will not put my kids in this program at any level of the district. I also don't see much value in the program in a district that already has high standards, high achievement and quality staff and administration.

Having said that you are so off base it actually makes my skin crawl. The "curriculum" is not generated by some Marxist in Geneva, instead, by Upper St. Clair teachers and administrators with input from parents in the community. The "curriculum" is the very same as what is being taught to the non-IB students.

This is not a morals driven program as you suggest. Instead, it teaches students to see connections and understand the world around them. As a person who conducts business around the world, I can see the value in this type of thinking.

I have found that being in the traditional program has fostered the same type of thinking in my kids which is why I will not uproot them from their neighborhood school.

After reading the article, as well as most of the comments, I almost feel like laughing. As I read some of the comments against the IBO to my mother, I wondered how people come to these conclusions. First of all, the IB program is not in anyway pro-socialism or anti-Christian, or sided politically or religiously at all. It's just a different method for a student to learn about the world, and in many colleges, it is considered just as valuable to have an IB Diploma as it is to have gone the AP route and received a certificate for that. If you doubt my remark on that subject, look up some of the best colleges in the country,and you will notice that they give college credit to those who have taken IB courses and passed the IB exams. Whether these colleges are liberal or conservative has no effect. These colleges are wise enough to know a good thing when they see it--as well as when to commend those who have gone through with it. I have nothing against those who do not wish their children to follow through with the IB programs for fear that they will be with the same people for a long time because it's a true fact. However, being a diploma candidate myself, I can appreciate the fact that I know my peers well enough to consider them friends and to be able to trust them. In my seven years taking IB classes, I have never had IB 'propaganda' pushed upon me. My teachers are just like you and me. American, and proud of it. There is no conspiracy hidden underneath.

Stay away from the PYP program- take from a mom who is in a PYP school- If you think learning about Cinderella in other countries is something crucial for first graders to learn- then this is the program for you- Global citizens, behavior profiles, attitudes of tolerance and cultural understanding- if these are the main goals you expect from a school- this is the program for you- My students are having to compete among other classmates to be risk-takers- Caring- Balanced- Not to be high achievers in academics- you know the stuff that determines what college you will get into- I think this is the biggest waste of money and time- Lucky for us we have a liberal donor Bernard Rapopoport funneling money into this program- so the taxpayers have no say- we are stuck since we cannot afford private school for two kids and we cannot move thanks to the housing market- This program has not proven to be successful- Pre-K students know as much spanish as they do English- The PYP program consumes every activity and program of the school-

Wow, somebody did a major house-cleaning of comments! And, it was done several days after the comments were posted. Help us understand what is happening with the process.

Roger,
My nephew John Eppolito and Lisa McLoughlin have been suspended from a Patch in Stow, OH, so they are they are suspended from all Patch publication. So their comments have been removed from all Patch sites.

Why would Patch remove their comments? Did they use foul language?

Did they lie?

My nephew did not lie or foul language. Lisa did not lie, she can be a little direct, but she did not use foul language.

His article was interesting. I read it prior to the link being removed from Patch.

Hello all! I was away getting married and going on a honeymoon and it looks like I missed a very heated discussion and story topic! I love the debate you all are having. Many of you are sharing some really good points. First of all, I would like to make clear that the Upper St. Clair guest editor filling in for me did not delete any comments. It appears at some point, two users' comments disappeared from Upper St. Clair Patch after they were suspended. Managers in another region decided to suspend the two users because they say they violated the terms of use. As a reminder, here is the link to review the terms of use that you agreed to when you registered with Patch: http://upperstclair.patch.com/terms. Second of all, there is another "open mike" meeting on the Streams Elementary IB discussion on Monday night. Upper St. Clair Patch will be there covering the event. Come up and say hi to me if you would like to be interviewed. The article will be published on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

MARY SAID MR EPPOLITO'S ARTICLE WAS INTERESTING. I THINK YOU SHOULD REPRINT IT. DO YOU HAVE IT?

Here is John's article,
http://myinclinevillage.com/2011/07/31/what-all-parents--students-should-know-before-enrolling-in-ib.aspx

Here's Johns article again,
http://myinclinevillage.com/2011/07/31/what-all-parents--students-should-know-before-enrolling-in-ib.aspx