Debate heats up
By LINDSAY HICKS
Cherry Hill Sun
2/11/2007
Superintendent’s proposal to phase out IB program elicits support, criticism at meeting
The Cherry Hill Board of Education meets again this week to discuss Superintendent David Campbell’s recommendations regarding the future of the school district’s International Baccalaureate Programme and comments from the public at the Jan. 30 meeting.
Ann Martin, senior consultant for Praxis Consultant Group, facilitated last week’s meeting by asking the more than 175 people in attendance to work together in answering three questions about the aspects they support, dislike and would change about the recommendations Campbell announced Jan. 23.
IB courses focus on critical thinking, cultural awareness and the process of learning by invoking questions, rather than on multiple-choice tests and lessons presented in textbooks. The program costs the district $515,000 per year, according to officials.
After months of research, observation in classrooms, interviews and informal discussion, the superintendent recommended a phase-out of the program at Cherry Hill High School West and a vote among certificated staff at schools that currently provide the I.B. option.
He also advised against expanding the program into Cherry Hill High School East or any other school that doesn’t already offer the option.
Campbell requested a vote among certificated staff to determine whether the nine other schools support IB.
At least 70 percent of the staff had to vote “yes” to allow for the continuation of the Middle Years and Primary Years Programs in elementary schools, he said.
Certificated full-time staff members at Bret Harte, Thomas Paine and Joseph D. Sharp elementary schools voted to keep the program, along with Rosa Middle School, where 98.5 percent voted to keep IB, according to data presented at last week’s meeting.
Only 19.3 percent of Cherry Hill West’s voters supported keeping the program.
Martin guided the impassioned crowd to take part in fair, effective dialogue by listening to understand, speaking to be understood, asking questions for clarification rather than to render judgment and remaining open to new ideas.
Residents from all of Cherry Hill came together in groups of eight to discuss what they support about IB, what they find problematic and how to make the superintendent’s recommendations acceptable to stakeholders.
Denise Deshon led one group, recording notes from both sides of the debate.
She and her son, Michael Bellmonte, a freshman at Cherry Hill West, decided against continuing with IB after pursuing it in elementary and middle school.
More universities recognize Advanced Placement courses and Bellmonte shows strength in math and science, two topics Deshon said are less emphasized in IB.
Amy Blaker, a mother of twins attending third grade at Johnson Elementary School, stressed the enrollment imbalances that could result in only half of the elementary schools offering the program, and inquired why part of her tax bill would fund IB courses at other schools while her kids’ own school could use more special education teachers.
Others in the group felt frustration because fellow proponents failed to show up until last week’s meeting to voice support.
“We couldn’t get support for the last seven years. Where were these people then?” Meg Hamill inquired, during the group discussion.
Hamill, who has two children currently attending Cherry Hill High School East, spoke in support of the IB program, if done correctly.
“(The district) used it as a Band-Aid to help West, and it didn’t seem to work out too well,” the mother of four said.
The public opinion session drew dozens of IB proponents, however, including teachers and parents who decided to move to Cherry Hill solely for the chance to enroll their children in IB.
Resident Pat McCargo told The Sun getting rid of IB would set a dangerous precedent in the district and later drew a comparison to attempts to ban Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn in schools. Others suggested keeping the best practices involved with the method but ditching the official program.
Rosa teacher Christy Marrella-Davis told board and audience members that her group divided in their opinions during the group discussion, but she came for the “fabulous conversation” they had.
The teacher approached the microphone later to plead with the board to allow teachers to continue their mission to “shape and create the village” of more culturally aware students.
Agendas get in the way of decisions, and she hopes the board will keep offering students the chance to learn in a way that doesn’t define them and let’s them find their own ways in the world, Marrella-Davis said.
Students who took part in the discussion met in their own groups, presenting diverse opinions.
West Senior Kris Berinson couldn’t find much to support about Campbell’s recommendations, feeling getting rid of IB would “methodically and systematically dismantle” their educations, making Cherry Hill average.
If not perfected and expanded, the board should use the money budgeted for IB for another academic program, rather than for the rumored stadium project or athletics, she said.
Another student stepped up to make an even stronger statement, revealing her family’s decision to enroll her in Haddonfield Memorial High School after the Middle Years Program student at Rosa learned West might no longer offer IB.
The board waited as the line of residents voicing opposition to the program’s high cost or pleading for its survival continued until 11:30 p.m., at which time the board agreed it would not be in its best interest, or that of residents, to make any decisions.
Galie said they would take time to digest everything from the evening’s notes to prepare for a special meeting Feb. 6 to discuss Campbell’s recommendations. The meeting will be held at the Malberg Administration Building and will begin at 7 p.m., in place of the Police and Legislation Committee meeting.
Visit www.cherryhillsun.com Wednesday for an update on the board’s discussion of Campbell’s IB recommendations.
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