News 12 at 6, March 16, 2009

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga.---Lake Forest Hills Elementary staff is trying to raise money on their own to get a new IB program, instead of asking for it from the cash-strapped school board.

Stephen Fox loves teaching first grade at Lake Forest Hills Elementary. He says the kids get a great education there, but the school wants to do even better.

"We're looking at a way to take our school to a different level and that's our goal, is to grow," said Fox.

That's where they want the IB program to come in. At the elementary level it's called the Primary Years Programme and Fox says they've been talking about it for years.

Principal Sonya Bailey joined the staff in October and decided to act on it, but decided not to ask the school system for the start-up money, which is more than $25,000.

"If we went and asked at this time for money...that would just be pointless," said Bailey.

The principal knew balancing the budget was hard for the school system already this year, as Richmond County schools had to fill a $13 million hole to balance the budget.

She decided the school would raise the money to start the program.

"We are excited," said the principal. "We're realistic it's going to be a lot of work and it's going to be difficult but we're ready for that. We feel the rewards outweigh how hard it's going to be."

Lake Forest Hills just got permission last month from the school board to raise the money and apply for the program. Now they're looking for business partnerships and individual donors.

While Fox teaches about money, he's also hoping they can raise a lot of it.

"If the support is there for the program overall, then the finances will come," said Fox. "You have to believe that, otherwise we would be wasting time trying to pursue it."

The school board is helping in other IB costs besides the start-up fee. IB schools have to have foreign language programs, which Lake Forest Hills already does and the school system pays those teachers' salaries.

Principal Bailey says it's a long process to implement the IB program. She hopes to have it operating starting in the 2010-2011 school year.

Anyone wishing to contribute should call Sonya Bailey at the school at (706) 737-7317.