Washington Foundation donates $50,000 to MCPS program

Click on the link below to read the Missoulian article reporting on the Washington Foundation's donation of $50,000 to MCPS for the International Baccalaureate Program at Hellgate High School.

Washington Foundation donates $50,000 to MCPS program

Some quotes from the article follow:

"The International Baccalaureate program, which was founded in Switzerland in 1971, is a rigorous educational experience that focuses on developing "inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect."

and -

"At the high school level, the program usually runs for two years."

and -

"Students must choose one subject from each of groups 1 to 5, thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics," the International Baccalaureate organization's website states."

and -

"Apostle said integrating the program into the Missoula school system is part of his 21st century learning initiative."
 
and -

"There's only one other public school that has this in the state, and here in Missoula we should be leading the charge," Apostle said.
That program is taught in Kalispell, although the private Missoula International School is also listed on the IBO website,ibo.org. {emphais msw}

and -

"Apostle said he thinks the program is about two years away from being implemented."

and -

"It will be housed at Hellgate, but any high school student in the county will be able to take part in it," he said."

and -

"Apostle said part of the Washington money may also go to support Graduation Matters Missoula, a recent initiative designed to keep children in school."

Comments from missoula schools watchdog:

-  NO mention that the IB program is associated with UNESCO thus the United Nations.

-  Notice that the other IB school in Missoula is the Missoula International School who is leasing Prescott School in a sweetheart lease arrangement (see prescottschoolmissoula.blogspot.com for more information on this issue).

-  missoula schools watchdog is of the opinion that MCPS Chairwoman Toni Rehbein is the main person pushing the implementation of the IB program in Missoula schools as Rehbein was a past president of Missoula International School shortly before being elected to the MCPS Board of Trustees. 

-  missoula schools watchdog is of the opinion that the IB program being implemented at Hellgate High School is another favor to Rehbein's friends at her former school, MIS, so that the MIS IB students will be able to continue their IB classes at Hellgate at a reduced price (msw does not know if Hellgate IB students pay tuition) rather than MIS starting their own high school  IB program.

-  How much money is going to IB and how much is going towards the Graduation Matters program? - it would be nice to know.

-  There is no mention in this article about the exorbitant costs of IB for a school district. $50,000 is just a drop in the bucket for this program (one can read about the expense of the IB program on truthaboutib.com, a website dedicated to educating the public and school officials on IB).