International Baccalaureate program reinstated by school board

New information has come forward that has changed the mind of the Near North District School board, so it has decided not to cancel its International Baccalaureate program.

See: Students worry about their future after IB program is cut

Board Chair Jay Aspin told BayToday that the new information showed that the program was sustainable.

The board passed a motion last night to rescind an earlier decision that had chopped the program.

"It came to my attention about a week ago that we didn't have all the information. We did not have the full story."

Aspin says the earlier decision was not well received.

"Of course all the people in the program were very upset and pointed out to us that the program was much broader and much more effective and the value of the program, not only for the Near North Board but for the region in general."

Aspin says at the time the budget was being drawn up the board was given information that it was $900,000 in the hole.

"We were only given half the story. The full picture wasn't there. When we got the full picture we realized the program is more than sustainable and is very positive as a matter of fact. The people involved were pointing out the value of the program but the real turning point was the sustainability, and we can say with the full information we eventually got the trustees are comfortable that the program is more than sustainable."Earlier, the Near North Board announced that the program was being cut as part of the board cost-saving measures going into the new school year.   

The IB program was considered “costly” and “unsustainable.”

Chippewa’s IB program started up in 2015 and accelerated learning program provides internationally accepted qualification for entry into high education which is recognized by many international universities.  

The curriculum requires that students complete a course of study in six core subject areas (language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, and the arts) write an essay of up to 4,000 words, and sit standard, externally assessed exams.

"It's better to right a wrong, and the board recovered quickly once they got the information," said Aspin."