Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Curriculum topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves new IB courses after trustee objects to climate‑change framing
Summary
The Murrieta Valley Unified board voted to approve several new International Baccalaureate courses, including an environmental systems course criticized by a trustee for presenting climate change as undisputed; trustees debated whether to add companion material but noted IB exam requirements constrain course texts.
Murrieta Valley Unified trustees approved new International Baccalaureate (IB) courses for upper grades after a trustee raised objections about how one text treats climate change.
The board considered adoption of IB physics, IB sports and health science, and IB environmental systems and societies for grades 11–12. A trustee objected specifically to the environmental systems and societies text, arguing that it treats climate change as an undisputed fact and that “teaching this to our students as if it is undisputed … is not acceptable.” The trustee said thousands of scientists have “debunked climate change,” and recommended supplemental readings offering alternative viewpoints.
District staff and the IB coordinator explained that IB is an exam‑driven program with a narrow set of approved resources; leaving out sections could disadvantage students on the IB exam. Staff said the new IB materials had recently been updated and that supplemental classroom discussion is possible, but acknowledged limits because IB assesses students on standardized exam content.
Trustees discussed the tradeoff between offering the IB diploma program (which students value for rigor and college recognition) and permitting alternative texts. One trustee suggested teaching additional materials alongside the IB text to support critical thinking, but trustees also noted that the exam content may not reflect those alternate viewpoints.
After discussion the board adopted the IB course adoptions in a roll‑call vote (the minutes show a roll call with four yes votes; one trustee stated opposition during discussion). Staff said the number of IB sections is small (one or two sections annually) but emphasized the program’s value for students pursuing the IB diploma.
The adoption carries standard implementation steps: textbooks and materials will be made available to teachers and the district will monitor how IB implementation aligns with instruction and assessment.
