Christa is covering meeting in comments section

It appears as thought the Coeur d'Alene School Board will attract an overflow crowd for its 5 o'clock meeting this afternoon at the Midtown Center. Huckleberries has learned 50 people already are in attendance, 40 minutes before the start of the meeting. (Above, view of room 25 minutes before start of meeting.) Most, I suppose, are there to testify or hear the discussion about the proposed end of the Primary Years Programme (an elementary school version of the International Baccalaureate program that the new School Board voted in August to phase out.

• 6:01 p.m. Steve Griffitts of Jobs Plus just spoke eloquently of the value to a community in having expanded choices and a strong education system.
• 5:49 p.m. Possible solution at Hayden Meadows presented by Hazel Bauman:  Utilize 2 campuses for PYP and also a neighborhood school.  Put one program at Hayden Meadows and the other at the location of the old Hayden Elementary program.  She couldn't say which would go where until enrollment started to go. If they discontinue the PYP program, there is a real possibility that parents form a charter school.  For every 22 kids that exit on this basis, the district loses $80,000. Bauman also states that some of the literature presents a disconnect from what is really happening.  "Global citizenship" does not mean allegiance to some world order.  Rather, it is taught that you are an American but mindful that other children do not have the advantages and freedoms that we as Americans have.
• More below

• 5:07 p.m. Standing room only.  Public comments on items NOT relating to the agenda will be heard shortly.  Voting now is taking place on the consent agenda, including a presentation on the progress of the bond procurement.  Public comments will be taken on PYP later in the evening.
• 5:04 p.m. Marshall Mend of the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Rights Task Force is present.
• 4:48 p.m. All trustees are present. Steve Griffits is here.  I hear he will be standing w/Chief Allan supporting this program. A few parents are wearing "We <3 PYP." Former board applicants have arrived.  Casey Morrisroe, applicant for the seat that went to Purtee.  Tom Hearn, applicant for the seat that went to Hightower. Shelley Woodard, anti-IBer, applicant for the seat that went to Hightower.  Duncan Koler,  ant-IBer, applicant for the seat that went to Purtee.
• 4:46 p.m. 634 people have signed Adam Graves' online Facebook petition supporting PYP here.
• 4:36 p.m. Chief Allan of the Coeur d'Alene Indian Tribe just arrived; he'll be speaking on behalf of PYP.
• 4:30 p.m. RecallCDA leaders Frank Orzell, Mary Souza and Sharon Culbreth have arrived in a group that includes Rick & Joy Seward and Wayne & Ruthie Johnson.