QUOTE: Peter Sherr Says: "This whole subject tore open the board before, badly, It tore open the community before. I was so disappointed because I was interested in the comment that it helps kids perform better. I got this long report that was like a sales job on IB again."
The district needs to take a closer look at its current magnet programs before launching another themed school as a way to address racial imbalance, the Board of Education has concluded.
The district needs to take a closer look at its current magnet programs before launching another themed school as a way to address racial imbalance, the Board of Education has concluded.
The school board recently decided to explore creating a science, technology, engineering and math program to help racially balance Hamilton Avenue School and New Lebanon school.
During an evening work session, the board discussed the district's magnet programs and how the success of the International Baccalaureate program at the International School at Dundee could be replicated to affect the racial imbalances.
During an evening work session, the board discussed the district's magnet programs and how the success of the International Baccalaureate program at the International School at Dundee could be replicated to affect the racial imbalances.
During the discussion, Superintendent of Schools William McKersie presented an overview of the IB magnet programs at the International School at Dundee, New Lebanon School and Western Middle School, as well as student achievement data for ISD.
Board member Peter Sherr took issue with McKersie's presentation of data about ISD students, which included high scores on standardized tests. Sherr noted that ISD students still don't perform as well on tests as students at Old Greenwich, Riverside and North Mianus schools, and said the data doesn't show that the IB method helps students more than teaching methods at the town's other high-performing schools.
"This whole subject tore open the board before, badly," Sherr said, referring to last year's debate about expanding IB to Western Middle School. "It tore open the community before. I was so disappointed because I was interested in the comment that (IB) helps kids perform better. I got this long report that was like a sales job on IB again."
