El Dorado board adopts new elementary science curriculum, approves gym and facility planning and several program and personnel measures

The El Dorado Unified School District Board approved a bundle of curriculum, facilities and program measures during its meeting, including a three‑year adoption of Mystery Science for kindergarten through fifth grade and a refinishing project for the high school gym floor.

Rachel Shipley, who has overseen recent curriculum adoptions, told the board that teachers rated the pilot highly and that the Mystery Science package includes online curriculum and lab kits. “This was at a 90% approval rating from the teachers,” Shipley said. The board approved the adoption as presented; the transcript records a three‑year total stated during discussion as $32,579, though the precise line‑item breakdown was not included in the board record presented at the meeting.

Facilities projects approved or authorized include a refinishing of El Dorado High School’s competition gym court and replacement of weight‑room racks. Carter (staff member, facilities) said the redesigned court will be much brighter and “it’s gonna look beautiful,” and the motion to proceed with the gym floor passed. The board also approved a $33,750 master‑planning contract with GravityWorks for a multi‑phase review of the district’s support‑services facility; the contract covers planning phases and allows phased approvals as the project advances.

The board approved a set of new courses to expand the high school’s health‑science and sports‑medicine pathway, enabling students and team managers to receive instruction in injury care, taping and rehab fundamentals. The superintendent explained those classes would be eligible for Career and Technical Education (CTE) funding when students enroll and that some student internships are already underway with local hospitals.

The board reviewed and adopted district enrollment‑capacity numbers used for the nonresident student lottery process and approved personnel recommendations included in the meeting packet. Board members also approved several routine purchases and capital items presented during the meeting, including replacement racks for the weight room; the transcript records the district discussing an equipment expenditure but the precise purchase total in the public record presented at the meeting was not clearly stated.

During the meeting the board went into an executive session to discuss negotiations pursuant to the stated exception for employer negotiations. No bargaining details or outcomes were announced publicly at the close of the session.

Votes at a glance • Adopt Mystery Science (K–5) as the district elementary science curriculum — motion moved and seconded; board approved. (Discussion led by Rachel Shipley; transcript shows a three‑year figure of $32,579 stated during the discussion; exact budget line items not specified.) • EHS gym floor refinishing project — motion moved and seconded; board approved. (Carter presented the proposal; no dollar amount specified in the public motion text.) • Purchase/installation of new weight‑room racks — motion moved and seconded; board approved. (Staff described replacing worn racks; purchase amount not clearly specified in the transcript.) • GravityWorks master planning for support‑services facility — motion moved and seconded; board approved the full three‑phase planning package for $33,750 as presented. • Health‑science/sports‑medicine course proposals (foundations of rehab, care of athletes, sports medicine I & II) — motion moved and seconded; board approved offering the courses. • District enrollment‑capacity and nonresident lottery allocations — motion moved and seconded; board approved the presented capacities and lottery parameters for the upcoming year. (The board noted the district changed its nonresident application window; detailed capacity counts by school were included in the board packet but not read into the record.) • Personnel recommendations (as presented in the packet) — motion moved and seconded; board approved. • Executive session to discuss negotiations — motion moved and seconded; board entered executive session for the announced purpose.

Why it matters: The science adoption affects classroom materials and teacher planning for all K–5 classrooms; the facilities projects (gym and support‑services master plan) change the district’s capital‑investment timeline and building priorities; the health‑science courses expand CTE offerings and pathways that can lead to internships and postsecondary credentials.

The meeting also included school recognitions and athletic updates: staff members of the month were acknowledged at multiple schools (including Melissa White and Mrs. Jeffress), Blackmore Elementary received a KSDE challenge award for academic growth, and coaches and activity directors gave season summaries and participation updates for athletics, performing arts, esports and career‑technical events. Those reports were informational; the formal board actions were the curriculum adoption, facilities authorizations, course approvals, enrollment capacities and personnel approvals described above.

The board stated several items will return for follow‑up (phased approval on master planning, detailed purchase orders for capital items and any required state approvals for new CTE course funding). No final contract execution details or vendor invoices were read into the public record at the meeting.