A note from the MMIB PTSO president,
Dear Parents and Students of MMIB,
Support the IB program
No matter which "option" you are in favor of
EVERY PARENT AND STUDENT SHOULD ATTEND THIS MEETING!
You may also sign up for a 3- minute presentation: skennedy@iss.k12.nc.us or 704-924- 2028
Board of Education Meeting: 5/10 at 6:00 p.m. at the Government Center, 200 South Center St. in Statesville.
IB Program Update:
Based on the newspaper article in Thursday's Mooresville Tribune, as well as our conversations with the Board of Education, a vote will be held, regarding the location of IB Program Grades 9 -12, at the Board of Education Meeting this Monday.
We have confirmed that a pre-vote was done and they are most likely to approve a one-site scenario. Yet, the issues of transportation, sports, etc. have not been worked out. There are also surprising financial aspects not considered before that will be presented at Monday's meeting.
I encourage everyone to attend regardless of which scenario you are in support of. As your PTSO President I have participated the task force of parents to share both the majority opinion of our school's community, AND the beliefs of those who are in favor of the ISS proposals.
Come and show your support of the IB Program!
Click here to view the newspaper article
Sandy Keller, MMIB Candidate School PTSO President
Email: sandy@aceofheartsgiftbaskets.com
Phone: 704-660-9840
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Note from PTSO
A message from MOUNT MOURNE IB SCHOOL
Dear Parents,
I am writing to provide you with an update regarding the future of the IB program in Iredell County. The Superintendent and I-SS Administration have been working with our Task Force and the Parents of the Northview IB school and are evaluating a proposal that would allow for Mount Mourne IB to continue as a 6-10th grade middle years program and have the IB Diploma Program at Lake Norman High School while having Northview continue as a 6-8th grade program with a 9-12th grade IB program being at Statesville High School. There are many benefits to this plan for all of Iredell County and we are hopeful that it will secure the recommendation of the Superintendent before the May 3rd Board of Education Meeting. However, this plan is still in the process of being evaluated by the I-SS administration and by the parents at
MMIB and Northview. We are pleased that the I-SS Administration is giving serious consideration to this two site solution and encourage your continued efforts to reach out in a positive and constructive way to support the IB program and the two site solution.
IMPORTANT MEETING DETAILS:
1. Monday, May 3, 2010 “Committee of the Whole Meeting” will be held at the Career & Technical Center, 350 Old Murdock Rd., Troutman beginning at 5:00p.m. The district has changed the format for this meeting to allow people to speak from the floor. All are encouraged to attend!
2. Tuesday, May 4, 2010 Area Advisory Meeting will be held at Lake Norman High School at 7:00p.m. in the Media Center. Topics for discussion: Wireless Communication Policy, Review of the 2010-2011 Budget and discuss possible cuts, and update the community on the work done by the Iredell-County Facilities Taskforce. All are encouraged to attend!
3. Monday, May 10, 2010 Board Of Education Meeting will be held at the Iredell County Government Center (Second Floor) at 6:00 p.m. Public comment is welcome but you are reminded to limit your comments to 3 minutes and to sign up PRIOR to the meeting by contacting the clerk of the board at 704-924-2028 or by email skennedy@iss.k12.nc.us.
Sandy Keller, BNI - 678-888-0200 x272
Dear Parents,
I am writing to provide you with an update regarding the future of the IB program in Iredell County. The Superintendent and I-SS Administration have been working with our Task Force and the Parents of the Northview IB school and are evaluating a proposal that would allow for Mount Mourne IB to continue as a 6-10th grade middle years program and have the IB Diploma Program at Lake Norman High School while having Northview continue as a 6-8th grade program with a 9-12th grade IB program being at Statesville High School. There are many benefits to this plan for all of Iredell County and we are hopeful that it will secure the recommendation of the Superintendent before the May 3rd Board of Education Meeting. However, this plan is still in the process of being evaluated by the I-SS administration and by the parents at
MMIB and Northview. We are pleased that the I-SS Administration is giving serious consideration to this two site solution and encourage your continued efforts to reach out in a positive and constructive way to support the IB program and the two site solution.
IMPORTANT MEETING DETAILS:
1. Monday, May 3, 2010 “Committee of the Whole Meeting” will be held at the Career & Technical Center, 350 Old Murdock Rd., Troutman beginning at 5:00p.m. The district has changed the format for this meeting to allow people to speak from the floor. All are encouraged to attend!
2. Tuesday, May 4, 2010 Area Advisory Meeting will be held at Lake Norman High School at 7:00p.m. in the Media Center. Topics for discussion: Wireless Communication Policy, Review of the 2010-2011 Budget and discuss possible cuts, and update the community on the work done by the Iredell-County Facilities Taskforce. All are encouraged to attend!
3. Monday, May 10, 2010 Board Of Education Meeting will be held at the Iredell County Government Center (Second Floor) at 6:00 p.m. Public comment is welcome but you are reminded to limit your comments to 3 minutes and to sign up PRIOR to the meeting by contacting the clerk of the board at 704-924-2028 or by email skennedy@iss.k12.nc.us.
Sandy Keller, BNI - 678-888-0200 x272
Upcoming meetings
IMPORTANT MEETING DETAILS
1. Monday, May 3, 2010 “Committee of the Whole Meeting” will be held at the Career & Technical Center, 350 Old Murdock Rd., Troutman beginning at 5:00p.m. The district has changed the format for this meeting to allow people to speak from the floor. All are encouraged to attend!
2. Tuesday, May 4, 2010 Area Advisory Meeting will be held at Lake Norman High School at 7:00p.m. in the Media Center. Topics for discussion: Wireless Communication Policy, Review of the 2010-2011 Budget and discuss possible cuts, and update the community on the work done by the Iredell-County Facilities Taskforce. All are encouraged to attend!
3. Monday, May 10, 2010 Board Of Education Meeting will be held at the Iredell County Government Center (Second Floor) at 6:00 p.m. Public comment is welcome but you are reminded to limit your comments to 3 minutes and to sign up PRIOR to the meeting by contacting the clerk of the board at 704-924-2028 or by email skennedy@iss.k12.nc.us.
1. Monday, May 3, 2010 “Committee of the Whole Meeting” will be held at the Career & Technical Center, 350 Old Murdock Rd., Troutman beginning at 5:00p.m. The district has changed the format for this meeting to allow people to speak from the floor. All are encouraged to attend!
2. Tuesday, May 4, 2010 Area Advisory Meeting will be held at Lake Norman High School at 7:00p.m. in the Media Center. Topics for discussion: Wireless Communication Policy, Review of the 2010-2011 Budget and discuss possible cuts, and update the community on the work done by the Iredell-County Facilities Taskforce. All are encouraged to attend!
3. Monday, May 10, 2010 Board Of Education Meeting will be held at the Iredell County Government Center (Second Floor) at 6:00 p.m. Public comment is welcome but you are reminded to limit your comments to 3 minutes and to sign up PRIOR to the meeting by contacting the clerk of the board at 704-924-2028 or by email skennedy@iss.k12.nc.us.
Monday, April 26, 2010
All about the students
I've not posted a page counter, but the lack of comments on the page leaves me wondering a bit how much visibility this page is getting.
In any case, my son shared with me a little one-pager put together by a number of the MMIB students last week following Weds morning's meetings at MMIB. They have put together an e-mail account, mmibstudents@gmail.com, and have solicited comments and questions from their fellow students.
Parents of students at both Northview and Mount Mourne are impressed with our sons and daughters as they work through the growing pains of these new IB programs.
To any of the students reviewing this page, we congratulate you on the strides you have made, and encourage you to remain engaged in your efforts to influence the sometimes messy process of local politics and decision-making. We hope you recognize that parents and administrators have your best interest at heart, and a lot of the energy you're witnessing is simply our intense passion to see you succeed, and we are dealing with some true differences of opinions in how best to help you succeed given the variables and perceptions of the challenges we face in the county.
In any case, my son shared with me a little one-pager put together by a number of the MMIB students last week following Weds morning's meetings at MMIB. They have put together an e-mail account, mmibstudents@gmail.com, and have solicited comments and questions from their fellow students.
Parents of students at both Northview and Mount Mourne are impressed with our sons and daughters as they work through the growing pains of these new IB programs.
To any of the students reviewing this page, we congratulate you on the strides you have made, and encourage you to remain engaged in your efforts to influence the sometimes messy process of local politics and decision-making. We hope you recognize that parents and administrators have your best interest at heart, and a lot of the energy you're witnessing is simply our intense passion to see you succeed, and we are dealing with some true differences of opinions in how best to help you succeed given the variables and perceptions of the challenges we face in the county.
Meeting with ISS Superintendent and administrative staff and Northview IB program representatives
Held meeting this afternoon/evening with Superintendent Brady Johnson and key members of the administrative staff.
Much discussion as we worked to get on same sheet of music as Northview parents, who have some concerns about viability of a "2 school" solution, primarily around financing and around building a critical mass of students in the "north" portion of the 2 school solution.
Bottom line is that we have kept, and raised the visibility of the option of MMIB holding the mid-year programme from 6-10th grade, with 11th and 12th at Lake Norman. The option that many prefer, of MMIB housing 6-12th is a non-starter given space constraints.
So an "option 3" is still on the table. Some work being done in terms of discussions with Northview parents and students about supporting a program that would meet their concerns- getting at the "win-win-win" solution- one that works for both Northview and MM IB students and parents as well as school administrators and school board.
Time is getting short with a key meeting next Monday...
Iredell-Statesville Schools
Monday, May 03, 2010 - 05:00 PM
Board of Education Committee of the Whole
Very small number of Northview and MM IB parents/PTSO leaders will be linking up with Superintendent and staff again on Friday in preparation for Monday's meeting.
If you'd like to provide feedback to participants of the Friday meeting, post the comments on this page and I can get it to them.
Much discussion as we worked to get on same sheet of music as Northview parents, who have some concerns about viability of a "2 school" solution, primarily around financing and around building a critical mass of students in the "north" portion of the 2 school solution.
Bottom line is that we have kept, and raised the visibility of the option of MMIB holding the mid-year programme from 6-10th grade, with 11th and 12th at Lake Norman. The option that many prefer, of MMIB housing 6-12th is a non-starter given space constraints.
So an "option 3" is still on the table. Some work being done in terms of discussions with Northview parents and students about supporting a program that would meet their concerns- getting at the "win-win-win" solution- one that works for both Northview and MM IB students and parents as well as school administrators and school board.
Time is getting short with a key meeting next Monday...
Iredell-Statesville Schools
Monday, May 03, 2010 - 05:00 PM
Board of Education Committee of the Whole
Very small number of Northview and MM IB parents/PTSO leaders will be linking up with Superintendent and staff again on Friday in preparation for Monday's meeting.
If you'd like to provide feedback to participants of the Friday meeting, post the comments on this page and I can get it to them.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A note from Lisa VanBuhler, 9th Grade Liaison, MMIB PTSO
My husband and I have been doing research to help support Option 3. Following are a few important items we think everyone should review and understand as it provides excellent insight into what is driving the thinking of the board:
Go to the Iredell-Statesville School Website under Community and then Redistricting. Here’s the URL -
http://iss.schoolwires.com/15311099123534613/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=76542&15311099123534613Nav=|&NodeID=1987
Open and read the Urban Institute presentation dated 9/19/2008. You’ll find good bullets to support Option 3, you’ll see a very strong recommendation to redistrict, and you’ll see support for the IB school/Magnet schools. You’ll also see several maps on population, school boundaries, etc.
Next open the follow-up presentation dated 2/12/2009. This is an update on the recommendation due to current economic conditions and suggests the IB schools are a way to relieve overcrowding. It also is where they suggest a one-school location for the IB diploma program. Below is information from Slide 17.
• Use of International Baccalaureate (IB) choice programs to relieve crowding
– A Statesville facility & Mt. Mourne become 6-8 grade IB
– A Statesville and/or southern county location becomes an IB diploma program
I believe this is where the board is getting their views and supporting documentation for their positions and they’ve been forming their opinions for more than 1 year.
All of the population and school district boundaries maps can be found by clicking on Maps & Illustrations. Here’s the URL -
http://iss.schoolwires.com/15311099123534613/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=76577&15311099123534613Nav=|&NodeID=1988
Finally, a few of the board members graduated from SIHS. So their perspective is going to be partial to SIHS. And given the fact we are only represented by 1 member of a board of 7 with the rest representing the north, quite an uphill battle – URL for Board Maps:
http://www.co.iredell.nc.us/Departments/Mapping/Maps/Iredell_School_Voting.pdf
With that as a backdrop, there are two key points that I think we should focus on with the delivery of Option 3:
Redistricting is going to need to take place within the next few years to properly align students with schools due to overcrowding, independent of any IB school actions. It should have already taken place given LKHS is two times the size of the next closest high school. Plus, growth of the IB program at the 6-8 grade levels will be facilitated by two IB Diploma locations vs. one. With the change to SIHS, key point we need to really drive is that it will kill the IB program in the south. The students will opt for LKHS and AP programs. I know they, the board, don’t believe this. We are going to need to over rally the parents and students. I can hear it at the board meeting now with signs, protests, etc. saying “Heck No, We Won’t Go!” :-)
Next is we really need to drive home the impact on the students in terms of their sense of community with friends, other families, and even within a given family must be brought out as reasons to support why we are parents and our children will no longer participate in the IB program. This is true for both the North and South.
Next is costs. I think we should show them their option may cost more. Here’s the thinking. Bus costs will go up. Maybe savings in school teachers however, assume in year 1 costs may be higher due to teacher training costs. Classroom costs will be higher year 1 as the classrooms need to be equipped to the level MMIB is (smart boards, etc.). But here’s the one that I think is a good one – the changes they propose will cause students to leave the IB program and many will opt for charter/private schools. This will be a negative drain on revenues, thus a cost of their option. When IB opened up, the district rec’d a check for $300,000 due to students going from charters back to IB. Pretty big dollars. Plus, take a look at the announcement yesterday from CMS – no more busing for magnet school students unless they find their own way to a high school. We are heading down that same path.
Then I think we need to find a sensitive way to illustrate SIHS shortcomings, and again drive it as a reason our kids will not go there and will opt back to LKHS or charter/private. It is a division 2 school athletically with terrible school assessment scores. That combined with the drive, the impact on family participation, how to handle a family with kids at IB and standard high school, etc.
Well, that is probably enough for one email. More, consolidated :-) thoughts later.
Go to the Iredell-Statesville School Website under Community and then Redistricting. Here’s the URL -
http://iss.schoolwires.com/15311099123534613/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=76542&15311099123534613Nav=|&NodeID=1987
Open and read the Urban Institute presentation dated 9/19/2008. You’ll find good bullets to support Option 3, you’ll see a very strong recommendation to redistrict, and you’ll see support for the IB school/Magnet schools. You’ll also see several maps on population, school boundaries, etc.
Next open the follow-up presentation dated 2/12/2009. This is an update on the recommendation due to current economic conditions and suggests the IB schools are a way to relieve overcrowding. It also is where they suggest a one-school location for the IB diploma program. Below is information from Slide 17.
• Use of International Baccalaureate (IB) choice programs to relieve crowding
– A Statesville facility & Mt. Mourne become 6-8 grade IB
– A Statesville and/or southern county location becomes an IB diploma program
I believe this is where the board is getting their views and supporting documentation for their positions and they’ve been forming their opinions for more than 1 year.
All of the population and school district boundaries maps can be found by clicking on Maps & Illustrations. Here’s the URL -
http://iss.schoolwires.com/15311099123534613/FileLib/browse.asp?a=374&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&c=76577&15311099123534613Nav=|&NodeID=1988
Finally, a few of the board members graduated from SIHS. So their perspective is going to be partial to SIHS. And given the fact we are only represented by 1 member of a board of 7 with the rest representing the north, quite an uphill battle – URL for Board Maps:
http://www.co.iredell.nc.us/Departments/Mapping/Maps/Iredell_School_Voting.pdf
With that as a backdrop, there are two key points that I think we should focus on with the delivery of Option 3:
Redistricting is going to need to take place within the next few years to properly align students with schools due to overcrowding, independent of any IB school actions. It should have already taken place given LKHS is two times the size of the next closest high school. Plus, growth of the IB program at the 6-8 grade levels will be facilitated by two IB Diploma locations vs. one. With the change to SIHS, key point we need to really drive is that it will kill the IB program in the south. The students will opt for LKHS and AP programs. I know they, the board, don’t believe this. We are going to need to over rally the parents and students. I can hear it at the board meeting now with signs, protests, etc. saying “Heck No, We Won’t Go!” :-)
Next is we really need to drive home the impact on the students in terms of their sense of community with friends, other families, and even within a given family must be brought out as reasons to support why we are parents and our children will no longer participate in the IB program. This is true for both the North and South.
Next is costs. I think we should show them their option may cost more. Here’s the thinking. Bus costs will go up. Maybe savings in school teachers however, assume in year 1 costs may be higher due to teacher training costs. Classroom costs will be higher year 1 as the classrooms need to be equipped to the level MMIB is (smart boards, etc.). But here’s the one that I think is a good one – the changes they propose will cause students to leave the IB program and many will opt for charter/private schools. This will be a negative drain on revenues, thus a cost of their option. When IB opened up, the district rec’d a check for $300,000 due to students going from charters back to IB. Pretty big dollars. Plus, take a look at the announcement yesterday from CMS – no more busing for magnet school students unless they find their own way to a high school. We are heading down that same path.
Then I think we need to find a sensitive way to illustrate SIHS shortcomings, and again drive it as a reason our kids will not go there and will opt back to LKHS or charter/private. It is a division 2 school athletically with terrible school assessment scores. That combined with the drive, the impact on family participation, how to handle a family with kids at IB and standard high school, etc.
Well, that is probably enough for one email. More, consolidated :-) thoughts later.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Catching up- events since 12 April
April 12- School board meeting-
Tom Kerhoulas and Dana Tucker spoke in the public comments section of the school board meeting, Tom as a parent, Dana representing the 9th grade students' parents (thus a bonus 2 minutes). 3 and 5 minutes are extremely limited periods of time, but both presented interests of the MMIB program that were aligned with the feedback we've been getting. There was one representative from the Northview IB program who spoke more briefly, her primary concern was that the Northview IB students needed adequate HS facilities.
School board members made no comments in response, but Superintendent Brady Johnson in his comment section referred to the IB programs as a 'home run', and provided a couple of supporting comments as well.
Meeting in Statesville on 20th was specifically announced as well.
April 20, ISS Board and ISS Administration public meeting about the IB program at 6 pm at Statesville High School in the Mac Gray Auditorium.
Powerpoint from that meeting below labeled "Dp overview"(also available currently on school system's home page):
I missed this one, but it apparently got things stirred up pretty good, because it prompted the next meeting the following evening:
April 21: Parents meeting at MMIB
Intent was to" share information received from last night's meeting with the superintendent. We plan to organize a team of parents to articulate our collective message to the school board and other decision making personnel."
I missed this one as well, business travel. But there is a page on the PTSO site that summarizes current status:
This page encourages all interested parties to weigh in and take action- including taking the survey noted below, and reaching out personally to school board members.
Iredell/Statesville school system survey on the IB Programme.
John Ong has made inroads in a dialogue with superintendent Brady Johnson regarding the IB programme and the superintendent has invited a small group including the PTSO presidents for Northview and Mount Mourne IB programmes to meet with him on Monday, 26 April.
Tom Kerhoulas and Dana Tucker spoke in the public comments section of the school board meeting, Tom as a parent, Dana representing the 9th grade students' parents (thus a bonus 2 minutes). 3 and 5 minutes are extremely limited periods of time, but both presented interests of the MMIB program that were aligned with the feedback we've been getting. There was one representative from the Northview IB program who spoke more briefly, her primary concern was that the Northview IB students needed adequate HS facilities.
School board members made no comments in response, but Superintendent Brady Johnson in his comment section referred to the IB programs as a 'home run', and provided a couple of supporting comments as well.
Meeting in Statesville on 20th was specifically announced as well.
April 20, ISS Board and ISS Administration public meeting about the IB program at 6 pm at Statesville High School in the Mac Gray Auditorium.
Powerpoint from that meeting below labeled "Dp overview"(also available currently on school system's home page):
I missed this one, but it apparently got things stirred up pretty good, because it prompted the next meeting the following evening:
April 21: Parents meeting at MMIB
Intent was to" share information received from last night's meeting with the superintendent. We plan to organize a team of parents to articulate our collective message to the school board and other decision making personnel."
I missed this one as well, business travel. But there is a page on the PTSO site that summarizes current status:
This page encourages all interested parties to weigh in and take action- including taking the survey noted below, and reaching out personally to school board members.
Iredell/Statesville school system survey on the IB Programme.
John Ong has made inroads in a dialogue with superintendent Brady Johnson regarding the IB programme and the superintendent has invited a small group including the PTSO presidents for Northview and Mount Mourne IB programmes to meet with him on Monday, 26 April.
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