Board approves Savvas math program for high school after teacher pilot and implementation plan

The Ralston Public Schools Board of Education voted May 12 to adopt a Savvas high-school math curriculum for implementation next school year after high-school teachers piloted two programs and recommended Savvas for districtwide alignment.

Teachers and department leads described a two-stage pilot that tested McGraw Hill Reveal in fall and Savvas (noted in materials as Savas/Envision) in spring. Margaret Trapp, co-department head for math, and Jim Brockhouse, co-department head, told the board the pilots produced mixed student reactions but that teachers selected Savvas as the preferred program.

“We piloted McGraw Hill in the fall ... kids were not big fans of doing homework online versus, you know, something on paper pencil,” Jim Brockhouse said, describing initial student resistance to online homework. Teachers and leaders said the district will provide options for students who need paper assignments or who lack reliable home internet access and will narrow which digital components teachers must use.

District presenters said teacher feedback emphasized higher rigor in the chosen program and the opportunity for K–12 vertical alignment; one presenter noted that student and teacher feedback is linked in materials provided to the board. The adoption motion was called, seconded and approved by roll call: board members recorded aye votes (listed in the meeting roll as Miss Rodey; Miss Krauss; Miss Richards; Miss Kumar; Miss Miller; and the meeting president’s aye), and the clerk announced that the motion passed.

Next steps presented to the board include targeted backward-design curriculum planning, clarified expectations for which curriculum components must be used in classrooms, training for new teachers, and implementation supports in year one. District staff said they will provide extra, targeted implementation support during the first year of districtwide use and monitor homework completion and accessibility concerns.

Board discussion included direct questions about equity and access: a board member asked whether online homework posed access problems for students without reliable home internet, and district staff acknowledged the concern as “district-wide” and said some teachers will continue to offer paper options and alternative arrangements.

The vote completed the high-school adoption item; board materials referenced teacher- and student-survey data collected during the pilots and linked observations from instructional coaches. The board did not take any separate budget vote at the meeting for curriculum purchases; staff said implementation supports and training will be planned and communicated for the 2025–26 school year.