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School board adopts new math textbooks, approves meeting-date change and personnel recommendations
Summary
The board approved a math-textbook adoption for 2024–25, directed curriculum rollout and teacher training, and voted on several procedural and personnel items including moving the April meeting to April 8, 2025.
KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. — The Kershaw County School District Board approved new math instructional materials tonight, authorized follow-up curriculum work and professional development, and completed a bundle of procedural votes including a meeting-date change and acceptance of personnel recommendations after an executive session.
The board voted to adopt the district’s recommended math texts for the 2024–25 adoption cycle. Dan Matthews, the district’s chief academic officer, described the selections and the state-driven timeline: K–5 will use I-Ready; grades 6–8 and 9–12 will use Savvas; the new high-school pathways include Applications and Modeling (B.W. Walsh) and reasoning/statistical-modeling texts (Savvas) for certain courses. “We—re asking for your approval tonight,” Matthews said.
Matthews walked the board through the curriculum consequences of South Carolina’s updated math-course sequencing, notably geometry preceding Algebra I in the new pathway and a projected one-year surge in geometry enrollments. He described local professional development plans, including hosting South Carolina Department of Education training at WTC in May for teachers who will be asked to teach the revamped geometry course.
Board member questions focused on access to materials and delivery format. Matthews said the adopted materials include consumable student texts and district planning assumes students will receive individual volumes for the school year. “These are consumable texts. So we will get texts this year or in the late spring for next year. The kids will get an individual,” he said.
The motion to approve the textbook adoption was made by Charles King and seconded by Alden Furnace; the board voted in favor. After the vote Matthews said the district will proceed with ordering materials and move into curriculum mapping and assessment planning after state standardized testing.
The meeting also included a cluster of procedural votes and an employment action after executive session; the board approved the administration—s personnel recommendations on a motion that carried. The board agreed to move the April regular meeting from April 1 to April 8, 2025, for contract-related timing.
Votes at a glance: - Adopt agenda: Motion by Charles King; second Ron Blackman; outcome: adopted. - Accept consent agenda (March 2025 meeting minutes): Motion by Gene Cameron; second David Roberts; outcome: approved. - Approve math textbook adoption (K–12): Motion by Charles King; second Alden Furnace; outcome: approved. - Enter executive session to discuss personnel (resignations, retirements, employment, assignments/transfers): Motion by Mr. Reeves; second by Ronnett; outcome: board entered executive session. - Accept administration—s recommendations on employment matters (post-executive session): Mover/second not fully specified in transcript; outcome: approved. - Move April 1 regular meeting to April 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.: Motion by Dr. King; second Autumn; outcome: approved. - Adjourn with prayer: Motion made and seconded; outcome: meeting adjourned.
Why it matters: the textbook adoption aligns local course offerings with the state—s revised math pathways and triggers training and material-distribution timelines that the district said it will carry out after standardized testing.
What—s next: staff will begin ordering consumable student texts and schedule the May trainings; the board will meet on April 8, 2025, at 6 p.m. for contract-related business and continued budget work.
