School board approves new math textbook adoption funded by VDOE textbook fund balance

Mister Fawn, a Danville Public Schools staff member, presented the district’s recommendation to adopt new mathematics textbooks at the May 1 board meeting and asked the board to appropriate textbook fund balance held for this purpose by the Virginia Department of Education.

The presenters told the board the recommended package aligns to Virginia’s updated standards and includes Kiddom (elementary), Mathspace (grades 6–8 and high-school courses), Pearson for precalculus and Cengage for trigonometry. “These resources are designed with instructional routines that promote student engagement, questioning, and discussion,” Fawn said. The district said online access accompanies the physical texts, and elementary consumables will be provided where applicable.

The combined purchase price presented to the board was $1,278,116.56. Finance staff explained the money would come from the textbook fund balance held for textbook purchases; the district reported roughly $2.6 million currently in that balance. Staff also outlined a professional learning plan that begins with district trainings in June and July, followed by ongoing coaching and site-based support during the school year.

Board member Miss Walker moved to approve both the textbook adoption and the appropriation of the VDOE textbook fund balance in the requested amount; Miss Cunningham seconded. The roll call vote was recorded as affirmative and the motion carried. The presenters said the adoption will follow a seven-year cycle for instructional materials.

The board’s action appropriated state textbook funds to purchase the recommended math materials and to fund the associated professional learning; the vote concluded the item at the May 1 meeting.