Dexter school board votes to implement International Baccalaureate program

The Dexter school district will begin offering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for high school juniors and seniors starting next school year. The school board approved a plan to offer the program by a vote of 5-1 Monday night with one trustee absent.

Board member Bonnie Everdeen cast the dissenting vote.

"I don't think I.B. is a fit in this fiscal environment now in Dexter," said Everdeen. "I think Dexter already does a really good job of preparing students for college."

But several board members said the program will benefit the district.

"I think I.B. is the right concept for education," said board President Larry Cobler.

"I.B. is a targeted investment in our district," said Trustee Julie Schumaker. "It will attract more diverse students to Dexter."

School board member Dick Lundy was absent.

The program, provided in schools around the world, offers students a standardized curriculum and is aimed at helping students succeed in the interconnected, globalized world.

Dexter Superintendent Mary Marshall said the district has completed the application process and has been accepted as an I.B. candidate school.

"The next step will be to develop the curriculum and work with students who are interested in the program," Marshall said. "We will begin to gather course request information from students in December, and then we can determine how many sections of each course will be needed."

So far 35 students in Dexter who will be juniors in the fall of 2012 have expressed interest in being full I.B. Diploma Programme candidates. In addition, there are more than 100 students who will be juniors and seniors at that time who plan to take one or more I.B. courses.

The school board passed a resolution in May 2010 to begin the process of implementing the I.B. programme, and since that time a number of district residents have spoken out both for and against it. Parent Joe Zofchak spoke against the program Monday night.

"We have to select the programs that benefit the most students and stop spending money on special interests," he said.

Parent David Read, a former I.B. student himself, said he supports the program.

"I.B. does a great job of preparing people for college and life," he said.

Most of the Dexter High School teachers involved in the I.B. Diploma Programme have already been trained. The curriculum includes a theory of knowledge course as well as courses in languages, social studies and experimental sciences.

Last fall, district officials said joining the program would cost the district $10,000 and require hiring two to three additional teachers.

The Dexter school district voted not to participate in the Washtenaw International High School which will open in the former East Middle School in Ypsilanti this fall. The International High School will offer an I.B. program to seven school districts in Washtenaw County with a total of 151 students in the initial class.

Lisa Carolin if a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. For more Dexter stories, visit our Dexter page.