Pleasant Valley plans K'5 ELA purchase, extends iReady math; science kits to be reviewed

District administrators told the Pleasant Valley School District Board of Education on April 22 that they will present multiple curriculum purchases and renewals for board approval at upcoming meetings.

The district plans to purchase a new English language arts (ELA) program and related classroom kits for kindergarten through grade 5. A staff presenter said the cost for K'5 materials would total $188,000 and that the purchase will be paid from grant funds.

Administrators also said they will extend the iReady math program contract for two years at a cost the presenter estimated as $209,000. The extension was described as a way to avoid asking elementary teachers to implement a new ELA program and a new math program at the same time.

Separately, administrators said the vendor that supplies science kits for grades K'8 has notified the district the kits are being discontinued after next year. Staff said the district will purchase kits now to cover the coming year and begin a multi'building review of science resources aligned to the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) so the district can make a longer'term program decision.

Board members and staff said teacher teams are involved in the ELA work; teachers are meeting during the school day with substitute coverage to plan materials and lessons for next year. Staff said the ELA purchase and the iReady extension will both be funded by grant money and that the district intends to support teachers with training and materials.

No final contract approvals were recorded during the meeting; staff said the items would be presented for formal approval at the next meeting.