In the recent months rumors about funding for the upcoming school year have spread throughout the school. In lieu of recent financial troubles the district will have to make cuts across the board, however, what and how much is still to be decided. Cutting teachers, eliminating block scheduling and even getting rid of the International Baccalaureate program has been discussed.

In order to judge the effectiveness of the IB program, a survey was sent out across the district. The results have not produced any conclusions but the evidence does show what the people feel.

When teachers were asked what areas of the IB program they felt were essential to 21st century learning, only 14 percent chose the Personal Project while 7 percent saw the Fifth Grade Exhibition as crucial. Inquiry topped the list of eleven choices with 85 percent of teacher believing this was critical to modern day education.

Coming from the teachers that execute the International Baccalaureate program, only 14.29, percent felt the program was good for the students of Fenton. Teachers left anonymous comments explaining their rationale.

“Any concept that is important can be implemented without being an IB school,” one of the 42 surveyed district teachers said. “The program is a financial burden the district cannot afford.”
Not all saw the program as an unnecessary expense. The direction and model the IB program has developed is viewed by some as positive for students in the district.

“The DP [diploma program] provides an access to a challenging curriculum for students,” an anonymous teacher commented. “IB asks us to consider our teaching to focus on the best practices. This is good for students.”

No decision has been made about the future of the International Baccalaureate program at Fenton, or any other potential cuts.The only thing that is certain is the absolute need for change in order to successfully fund the upcoming school year.