Education committee hears multi‑year textbook purchases across ELA, science, social studies and AP courses

Council Rock curriculum staff presented proposed textbook and materials purchases on March 27, detailing multi‑year licensing, consumable workbooks and online access for multiple grade bands from elementary through high school.

Key selections included: Into Literature as the chosen ELA resource for grade bands including sixth grade (to align 6–8 band usage and literacy instruction across grades); continued use of Bridges Math in kindergarten; Reading Horizons as the kindergarten ELA foundation; new social studies materials for ninth and tenth grades with paired online access; and multiple science adoptions including updated biology and AP Biology texts. Presenters described vendors’ multi‑year licensing options (commonly six‑ to ten‑year license windows) and the district’s plan to purchase a mix of classroom sets and online licenses rather than a print copy for every student in higher grades.

Staff explained the rationale for decisions: aligning series across grade bands for continuity, teacher and pilot feedback from classroom trials, consumption preferences (teachers and middle school staff prefer consumable print workbooks for active annotation and on‑desk work), and operational considerations such as shipping large numbers of consumables to 12 schools. The committee was shown sample consumables and pilot feedback summaries. District staff said some consumables were piloted free of charge and that shipping costs were negotiated down in vendor pricing discussions.

Cost and term details were discussed in general terms. Presenters identified licensing durations (examples in the presentation: a six‑year license for several programs, an eight‑year consumable package cited when discussing middle‑level science, and a ten‑year online license for an AP Biology title). One slide referenced a multi‑year English package “close to $750,000” over six years (as noted by a board member during discussion); staff said individual line‑item costs differ by publisher, by consumable counts and by inclusion of professional services and shipping in vendor quotes. Staff also emphasized the district will manage counts year to year within license maximums aligned to enrollment.

Committee members raised questions about cost per grade, class‑set strategy versus one book per student, digital access via Canvas, alignment with course frameworks and standards, and whether primary sources and online tool access would be straightforward for teachers and students. Staff said some online access integrations with Canvas require additional work with tech integration specialists but are in progress.

Nut Graf: The meeting presented procurement recommendations and pilot results across ELA, social studies and science; staff did not ask for an immediate purchase motion but sought feedback before bringing formal procurement or budget requests to the board.

Staff said finalized vendor terms, counts and recommended purchase motions will return to the district’s regular approval process; the committee did not take a formal procurement vote at this meeting.

Ending: District staff said they will bring final contract recommendations, itemized cost tables and proposed budget entries to the board in a subsequent meeting for formal approval.