Estrella Mountain Elementary to end IB; board instructs staff to form committee to explore new signature program

The Liberty Elementary School District governing board voted Aug. 11 to discontinue the International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Estrella Mountain Elementary School and instructed staff to create a board committee of parents, staff and students to explore alternative signature-program options and return recommendations to the board for discussion and approval.

The motion to discontinue IB and create a board committee passed unanimously, 5-0. Earlier in the meeting Estrella Mountain principal Lindsey Boris told the board the campus has been discussing program options for 18 months and asked for a formal process that would preserve strengths of IB (inquiry-based learning, student agency, community engagement) while identifying a sustainable program aligned to district priorities.

Why it matters: The decision affects a campus that community speakers repeatedly described as an A-rated school and centers on choices about curriculum focus, staffing and program sustainability. Parents, teachers and volunteers voiced strong support for Principal Boris and urged the board to let the school lead a collaborative process.

What the board approved and the proposed timeline The board approved the motion as amended to instruct the superintendent and staff to create a board committee of parents, staff and students to explore options for a signature program and to bring recommendations back to the board for further discussion and approval.

Principal Boris described a proposed timeline during the meeting: form the committee in August/September, evaluate models between September and November, return a committee recommendation in December, and begin planning in January for a possible fall 2026 launch. Boris told the board she wants to retain elements of IB such as inquiry-based instruction and the community project even if the district discontinues IB accreditation and branding.

Staffing effects and clarifications Boris and Interim Superintendent Trevor McDonald said some staffing changes already took place: the district eliminated a 0.5 FTE Spanish teacher at Estrella and the IB PYP and MYP coordinator stipends would no longer be needed if the program ended. Boris and McDonald said affected staff had been notified and that positions would be managed according to district HR processes.

Public comment and school community views More than a dozen parents, teachers and volunteers spoke in favor of Boris and in support of a collaborative, community-centered process to identify a new program. Speakers cited Estrellas high test scores and staff stability and argued for preserving student-centered features of IB. A teacher and former IB coordinator, Heather Hedges, told the board that while she values IB, the evolving IB requirements made it difficult for the campus to meet every new expectation under public-school constraints.

Legal and procedural points Board counsel and trustees discussed whether a committee advising the board would fall under Arizonas open-meeting law. Counsel advised that if a committee is formed to advise the board it would be subject to open-meeting requirements (24-hour postings and minutes). Trustees amended the motion during debate to specify a board committee so public notice and minutes would be required. Several trustees asked staff to return with a workable timeline and to avoid rushing program development.

Vote and follow-up Motion (amended): "Discontinue the IB program and instruct staff to create a board committee of parents, staff and students to explore options of a signature program and bring back to the board for further discussion and approval." Outcome: approved, 5-0.

Ending: Board members and the principal said they would proceed carefully and seek community input; if staff determines more time is needed the timeline may be adjusted. The board did not set a binding launch date and said it expects staff to return with program options and feasibility assessments before final approval.