County School Board member Rhonda Thurman on Thursday questioned the cost of sending teachers in the system's three International Baccalaureate for out-of-state training.
The board was asked to approve three trips each in the $2,000-$2,300 range to Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Supt. Rick Smith said the funding comes from the general fund of the schools.
He said the teachers get the training, then teach it to other IB instructors.
Brown International Academy and Signal Mountain Middle/High School have already received their IB certification, but to keep the certification, there must be ongoing training, Karla Riddle, director of innovative programs, said.
Ooltewah High School is seeking its IB certification.
Board member Jeffrey Wilson questioned how much more the IB schools and the new STEM school will be than the traditional schools.
All board members approved the IB trips including Ms. Thurman, who noted that one of the teachers was already back.