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Board approves new sixth-grade social studies adoption and classroom atlases from McGraw Hill and Nystrom

3510680 · May 19, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

The board approved a six-year purchase of McGraw Hill's Exploring Geography and Global Issues and class sets of Nystrom World Atlases for sixth grade for $124,713.60; social studies teachers led the selection process and requested atlases to ensure equitable print map access.

Nicole Pemberton, the district K'12 social studies curriculum leader, proposed replacing largely teacher-created and out-of-date sixth-grade materials with McGraw Hill's Exploring Geography and Global Issues and a fifth-edition Nystrom World Atlas in classroom sets. Pemberton said teachers'review process considered six publishers and that nine sixth-grade teachers piloted and rated materials against a teacher-developed "top 10" rubric; "Teachers were in unanimous agreement for McGraw Hill," she said.

Nut graf: The proposed purchase totals $124,713.60 for book sets, teacher editions and digital licenses; the proposal adds class sets of the Nystrom Atlas because teachers and students requested high-quality paper atlases in addition to digital maps to support geography instruction.

Pemberton said the district's sixth- and seventh-grade course sequencing changed over the last 15'20 years as state standards evolved, and teachers sought comprehensive materials aligned to the finalized standards. The funded package would provide hardcover student texts, digital access through Schoology and ClassLink, teacher editions and five extra copies per building for media-center checkout. Pemberton said there should be no recurring annual cost for classroom hardcover textbooks. She also noted professional development options from McGraw Hill and a plan for implementation support from district curriculum staff.

Trustees asked about pilot participation and whether board members could preview full textbooks; Pemberton said nine teachers participated directly in the review and that the publisher supplied webinar-based PD for summer and fall. Funding for the purchase will come from the district's student intervention fund, and the board approved the purchase in its regular meeting.