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MSD Martinsville board approves new ELA textbook adoption after screen‑time questions
Summary
The MSD Martinsville Board approved an English language arts textbook adoption that aligns with the state’s approved program after trustees and staff discussed screen‑time concerns and curriculum options.
The MSD Martinsville Schools Board of Trustees voted to approve a districtwide English language arts textbook adoption at its regular meeting after trustees discussed screen time, curriculum content and classroom implementation.
Board President Heather Staggs recommended the adoption, which the board said aligns with the state’s approved program. A board member moved to approve the adoption and another board member seconded; the motion passed on a voice vote with trustees answering “aye.”
The adoption drew questions from board members about how much of the new curriculum would require student screen time. An unnamed board member asked, “Do we know how much what percent of screen time this is gonna require?” and said online components appeared to include “quite a bit of screen time for this younger group of kids.”
Jackie Deckard, a board member who participated in a local pilot of one of the materials, said the district’s third‑grade pilot of CKLA did not require screen time. “We piloted CKLA at Paragon and so we've used it over a year. I can speak for third grade, there's not any screen time for third grade. It's all books,” Deckard said. She added that the program may include short videos “we're talking about 5 or 10 minutes.”
Superintendent Eric Bolin and other administrators told the board that curricula serve as guidelines and that teachers determine classroom delivery. “When you get a curriculum, it's a guideline. It has a plethora of options,” a district administrator said during the discussion, urging that teachers and building administrators monitor use of devices so electronics augment instruction rather than drive it.
Trustees also raised questions about handwriting and cursive instruction. A board member noted that some versions of the materials include a cursive program, and asked whether the adopted version includes it. An administrator confirmed the curriculum “does have a writing program” but the board did not specify which package or options would be used districtwide.
The board passed the adoption by voice vote. Board members said final implementation decisions — including which optional digital components to use, pacing and device use in classrooms — will be made at the building level by teachers and administrators.
Board members did not record a roll‑call vote in the public minutes and did not identify the motion maker or seconder by name on the record.
