CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Some local leaders recently discussed the possibility of an International Baccalaureate program for a Bradley County school.
County Schools Education Director Johnny McDaniel explained the program on Thursday to the County Commission’s Education Committee.
Mr. McDaniel said his office has had some inquiries about an IB program but it would need more money and take several years to develop.
In Hamilton County, Signal Mountain Middle/High School and Brown Academy are candidates to become IB schools.
The local inquires were generated with the coming of Volkswagen and Wacker Chemical to the area, Mr. McDaniel said.
Founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1968 — mostly for children of internationally mobile families such as diplomats — the program has spread now to three programs for ages 3 to 19, for elementary, middle and high school years.
County Commissioner Lisa Stanbery, an Education Committee member, questioned how long it would take to develop.
“It would take about five years to have a program fully implemented,” Mr. McDaniel said, considering high school students would have to begin the program their freshman year.
“They have to have a certain number of courses. There’s a research project their junior year. It’s very intensive. Very difficult. They have to complete French six, or Spanish six, for example. Where we teach through Spanish four now. That would be two levels beyond what we normally do.”
The program would mean more money, including more teachers, he said.
“That’s probably why we don’t see it expanding at a higher rate,” he said.
Mrs. Stanbery and Mr. McDaniel brainstormed how an IB program could be funded.
“What about partnering with the universities?” she asked. “Or could we use extended contract money?”
Most dual enrollment courses can’t be counted for IB, Mr. McDaniel said.