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Board approves textbooks, opens new family-consumer-science classroom at Port Washington High School
Summary
The board approved purchasing two textbooks to support newly introduced fundamentals of baking and cooking courses and confirmed a new culinary classroom and teacher will start this year.
The Port Washington-Saukville School District board voted to approve two textbooks and related materials for new family and consumer science courses that begin this school year at Port Washington High School. The district plans fundamentals of baking and fundamentals of cooking sections starting next week and will buy classroom copies for both courses.
Why it matters: The curriculum addition restores culinary offerings at the high school and supports career-pathway planning. District staff said the goal is to provide hands-on, lab-based instruction and to expand course offerings in coming years.
Staff presented the recommendation and cost estimate. A staff member identified in the meeting as Sarah said the district was recommending two resources: Baker Bettie's Better Baking by Kristen Hoffman for the baking class and The Culinary Professional for the cooking class. Sarah told the board, “The approximate total cost for both of these textbooks, for both these courses would be $5,750.” Rachel, another staff member during the presentation, said the district would purchase about 30 copies of each title to keep in classroom labs.
Board members asked about student numbers, textbook lifespan and digital access. Staff said the lab format typically places students in stations of roughly four students; a typical class size is about 24, and the district chose classroom-owned hard copies to support messy, hands-on lab work and to limit students’ need to access phones during sessions. Staff also said the cooking textbook includes a publisher-provided online access component, while the baking title will be ordered as a print book.
The board approved the textbook purchase by voice vote. There was a brief discussion about price comparisons and publisher editions; staff said the culinary textbook is a newer edition and requires publisher licensing that increases cost above retail single-copy prices.
What happened procedurally: A motion to approve the curriculum textbook adoption was made and seconded; the board carried the motion by voice vote. Staff said the classroom will open next week with Chef Jeff as the instructor; the district will continue reviewing course offerings for 2026-27 and maintain a curriculum review cycle tied to state standards.
Ending note: District leaders said this is an initial step in restoring family and consumer science offerings and that they will monitor course demand, materials lifespan and digital resource options in the coming years.
