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Board adopts new science curriculum packages for elementary and secondary, including lab kits
Summary
The board adopted a multi-year science curriculum: Savvas for elementary (designed to integrate science into language-arts blocks and include hands-on kits) and McGraw Hill materials for secondary with lab-material budgets; presenters said the adoption covers multiple years and includes consumable kits.
Deming Public Schools adopted new science instructional materials Thursday after district instructional staff described a multi-year selection process and teacher input.
Doctor Laura Oldham and Executive Director Melanie Reinhart told the board elementary schools will use Savvas, which district staff said integrates science instruction into the language-arts block and includes hands-on kits so students receive regular laboratory experiences. Secondary selections include McGraw Hill programs for middle and high school; staff said those packages include lab-material budgets to support biology, chemistry and other high school lab work.
Oldham said the elementary choice was partly driven by schedule realities: “Elementary is going with Savvas and most of the time, what happens is that science occurs in the language arts block,” she said, describing the planned integration so teachers can cover both literacy and science standards in the same instructional time.
Staff described package costs and implementation as multi-year commitments. The presenters said the elementary package includes consumable kits and estimated an elementary figure in the meeting discussion (the staff presentation referenced the elementary package as approximately $540,000); staff also described the adoption as a multi-year contract and noted the state adoption process and published pricing used by districts.
Board members asked about the cost, duration and how kits will be refilled; staff said kit refills and material replacements are included in the multi-year plan and that the state’s adoption process defines available materials and pricing for districts.
A motion to adopt the recommended science instructional materials passed on a roll-call vote. Staff will proceed with procurement and work with teachers to order required lab materials and refills for the coming school year.
