Harlem School Board adopts new K-5 English language arts curriculum after months-long review

The Harlem School District 122 Board of Education voted March 17 to adopt a five-year K–5 English language arts curriculum from HMH Education at a total cost of $785,287.60.

Board member Ernie McLean, who led a committee presentation at the meeting, said the district vetted more than a dozen programs and narrowed candidates through multiple rounds of review and pilot testing. "This curriculum will literally shape our district for the next 5 to 10 years, in my opinion," McLean said.

The board spent extended time in committee reviewing the proposals, McLean and other board members said. They described a months-long process that included a selection panel, pilot testing in classrooms and follow-up questions from trustees about cost and expected results. Board members said negotiators trimmed roughly $200,000 from the initial proposal during those discussions. The contract approved Tuesday is a five-year agreement that the district described as composed of one-time purchases plus ongoing annual license/support costs.

Michelle Herr, the district's curriculum and instruction staff member listed in the meeting record, was identified in roll call as part of the administration present for the discussion; district staff answered trustees' questions about scope, timelines and evidence from other districts. Trustees said data presented to the Committee of the Whole showed example improvements in other nearby districts of roughly 12 to 20 percent in the first two years after adopting similar programs.

Board members repeatedly framed the vote as a long-term instructional investment. One trustee told colleagues the cost was "a tough pill to swallow" but said the expected instructional gains justified it.

Votes at a glance

- HMH Education, K–5 ELA adoption — Motion to approve five-year purchase agreement for K–5 ELA curriculum, total cost $785,287.60 — Outcome: approved by the board. Funding structure: one-time purchases plus annual subscription/licensing (details in district contract documents).

- Related approvals taken at the same meeting (summary): extension of athletic training services with Athletico Management LLC ($36,500); renewal of a needs assessment contract with the Northwestern Illinois Association ($574,005); HVAC/controls upgrade with Alpha Controls and Services ($87,350); fiber-optic replacement project with Netcom Networks (total pre–E‑rate cost $233,441.51; estimated post–E‑rate eligible cost $61,791.91); perimeter/security monitoring upgrade using a Stronger Connections grant ($83,172.66); and several intergovernmental and dual-credit agreements with Rock Valley College. All of these items were presented and approved at the March 17 meeting.

Why this matters

Trustees and administrators said adopting a new elementary ELA curriculum is intended to provide consistent core instruction across K–5 classrooms and to improve student outcomes over the next several years. The board stressed that the selection was the result of multi-step district review and a pilot process; district staff will proceed with implementation tasks identified during the committee review.

What the board said would happen next

District staff will finalize contract paperwork and begin implementation and training in line with the agreement's timeline. The board discussed that the purchase includes initial one-time materials and ongoing annual costs; specific implementation dates and classroom rollout details were assigned to central office staff during the committee phase of the review.