School Board Approves Music, Health Classes for Novi IB Program

Novi High School music students who want to pursue an International Bacclaureate (IB) programme diploma should find scheduling easier, with the approval Thursday of two new courses. 

School board members unanimously approved music and sports, exercise and health science courses, but rejected on a 3-2 vote a psychology course proposal. The split vote actually favored the course, but two board members were absent and approval required a 4-member majority. 

Superintendent Steve Matthews said the proposed courses, first discussed at a work session, would benefit a "significant population" of music students and athletes who can't participate in IB due to scheduling conflicts.

Matthews and assistant superintendent R.J. Webber also noted that a growing number of colleges and universities give students credit for IB coursework. Matthews noted that Alma College offers 32 credits to students with an IB diploma. 

"It's pretty amazing in these times when people are stressed financially that we can offer something for our kids that parents can turn into a real financial value," Webber said. 

Board member George Kortlandt supported the music class, but voted against the other two. He questioned the number of classes offered, given the relatively low number of IB students.

"I'm all for providing the opportunities if there's a real benefit for the children ... is our objective just to keep this program going or is it providing what people really want and need?" he said. 

Matthews acknowledged the need to balance fiscal responsibility with providing opportunities for students. However, he added, more than 300 students are taking advanced placement (AP) and IB classes. "The IB program does take some time to build, to have students recognize the benefit of it," he said. 

Matthews also unveiled the results of an on-line survey that closed on Thursday, with more than 300 parents of students entering grades 8-11 participating. The course with the largest level of interest was sports, exercise and health science at 27 percent, with psychology at 20 percent and music at 18 percent. 

Board member Bobbie Murphy pointed to the survey results in expressing her support for the psychology class. "I think there are students that have this interest in psychology, plus the fact that we're running five AP psychology classes and this is an easy flow into that," she said. 

However, board chair Dennis O'Connor said he opposed the course "from a resource allocation perspective." He said he didn't think the course would help students with scheduling and did not fit with the district's goals. 

Related: Novi School Board Questions IB Program Additions