Top 10 Stories of 2012: The Great IB Battle

Bedford Patch launched in June of 2011, making 2012 the first complete year of full-time hyper-local online community coverage in Bedford.

In the last 12 months, readers have been treated with some uplifting and positive stories and accomplishments. At other times, Patch has been forced to cover local and national tragedies that make us all take pause and remember who and what is most important to us.

We thought it only fitting that, as we approach 2013, we look back at some of the most interesting and newsworthy local stories of the last year. After all, where else are you going to get a list that's entirely dedicated to Bedford?

#2: IB Survives in Bedford

This spring, a hard push was applied to state legislators to eliminate the Bedford School District's ability to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Bedford High School.

But on May 16, the New Hampshire State Senate voted unanimously that HB 1403 is "Inexpedient to legislate."

According to the NH.gov:

A bill is considered killed when the House or Senate votes to adopt the committee report of "Inexpedient to legislate," or when a motion from the floor to "Indefinitely postpone" is adopted.

Had the legislation - which was approved by the NH House with a 209-102, veto-proof majority - been affirmed by the the senate, the ability of Bedford to offer International Baccalaureate education would have essentially been killed.

Instead, it's the bill that was vanquished, at least for 2012.

The senate education committee recommended the bill as "inexpedient to legislate" and the floor followed suit, agreeing with the committee by a 24-0 vote.

District 4 Sen. James Forsythe was the lone legislator to speak on the bill.

Though he expressed concern about privacy issues for students in the program, and questioned the legality of sending funds to IBO, which is still believed to have connections with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), he conceded that whether he agrees or disagrees with IB or other similar programs, he believes the decision of curriculum should be determined by individual school districts.

Bedford and Merrimack Valley are the lone two Granite State school districts that currently offer IB, an often controversial program that is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

Bedford Superintendent Tim Mayes said he and fellow district officials were pleased with the senate's decision.

"We felt as though they listened to the information presented by the district and testimony by staff, parents, and students, and made the best decision we could have hoped for," said Mayes. "We are very confident that the IB Program, as implemented by the teachers at Bedford High School, will provide a solid preparation for students' post high school choice."

Still, detractors remain.

Bedford resident and former teacher Jane Aitken promised the fight to remove IB from BHS and Merrimack Valley schools will continue.

"If you've worked in the public schools as long as I have, you know that every school reform program has had a political agenda as part of it," said Aitken. "IB puts its agenda in black & white in their own documents - making it one of the more glaring examples, and a target.

"All political agendas should be removed from education. Students should certainly not have to be subject to the agendas of foreign political groups (or any political lobby) just to get an education," she continued. "IBO's mission clearly states it's an arm of UNESCO and will necessarily infuse the goals and agenda of that group into your child's 'education'."

Top 10 Newsworthy Stories of 2012

#10: Bedford hires a new town manager

#9: Frank Szabo's abortion remarks spark outrage

#8: Bedford All-Stars fall one win short of Little League World Series

#7: Bedford plays large role in Romney's primary victory

#6: Sandy knocks out power to thousands in Bedford

#5: Plenty of Fireworks in District 9 Senate Race

#4: Sparks fly in Bedford Town Moderator Race

#3: 14 Horses Die in Barn Fire

#2: Tensions rise over IB in Bedford

#1: Monday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m.

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