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Board certifies Williams compliance despite kindergarten backorder; teachers urge faster ELA curriculum alignment
Summary
Trustees adopted Resolution 20252026‑4 assuring compliance with Education Code 60119(c) even though one kindergarten kit is backordered; public speakers and teachers urged the district to address inconsistent ELA curriculum (noting continued use of Lucy Calkins at some sites) and requested earlier districtwide equity in instructional materials.
At the Sept. 11 meeting the board opened and closed the public hearing on instructional material sufficiency and approved Resolution No. 20252026‑4 assuring compliance with Education Code 60119(c) for adequacy of instructional materials. Assistant Superintendent Ching Pei reported that all adopted curricula have been received except one kindergarten kit that is backordered but expected to arrive; in the interim the district printed booklets so students have classroom materials.
During public comment, teachers and parent leaders asked the board to address inequities in English language arts (ELA) materials and to accelerate adoption of research‑based writing instruction across sites. Pamela Miller, vice president of the Belmont Redwood Shores Faculty Association, said many upper elementary classrooms still use Lucy Calkins materials and described that approach as “widely, nationally criticized for its ineffectiveness.” BRSFA President Lisa Fahey and others urged the board to move more quickly to provide consistent, research‑based instructional materials and noted that some sites have used discretionary funds to purchase supplemental resources.
Superintendent Deguara and staff clarified the Williams requirement: the board must certify that adopted, state‑approved materials are in hand for every grade and subject adopted by the board; adoption of new materials is a separate process. Staff said orders are placed as early as July 1 and that publishers’ backorders — especially for the final year of a math series and for some kindergarten materials — were the source of the lone shortfall. The board approved the resolution by voice vote with no nays recorded.
Ending: Trustees directed staff to provide additional information on site discretionary spending for supplemental materials and to report back as part of curriculum adoption work and the district’s planned pilots.
