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Quakertown officials propose new eighth‑grade animation and storytelling elective costing about $303,600
Summary
District administrators presented a proposed eighth‑grade elective that pairs storytelling and animation through a licensed platform; the startup cost was stated as about $303,600 for 27 student licenses and leaders said they will pilot the course and watch demand.
The Quakertown Community School District presented a proposal for a new middle‑level elective that blends storytelling and animation for eighth‑grade students.
Dr. Hoffman, an administrator leading the curriculum presentation, told the board, “The new class that we are proposing for you this evening is, a middle level class.” She said the course is intended as an academic, high‑interest elective to complement band, chorus, art and tech‑ed offerings and to develop communication and creativity skills.
The district said it met with Terry Thoren, an animation professional who has worked in commercial animation and who now runs a school offering that combines animation with English language arts. Dr. Hoffman said districts contacted in California showed strong growth for the program and that some students have used skills gained in the course on community projects.
Dr. Friedman, an administrator who accompanied Hoffman to the meeting with Thoren, described the class as “truly interdisciplinary” and said it would elevate student voice and critical thinking. He noted the district had worked with Thoren previously to produce free videos for the Cook Center.
District staff presented the program cost as a bundled licensing purchase. “It is, I think, $303,600,” Dr. Hoffman said, and she added that the amount was for 27 licenses; the district is assuming class size would not exceed 27 and said any additional student would cost “an additional $20 per student.”
Board members and administrators said the district intends to pilot the course, monitor student interest and expand if demand warrants. No formal vote on adopting the class or the license purchase was recorded during the meeting; staff said the course proposal and supporting documents would be added to a future board agenda for formal review and possible action.
Officials said the planned course statement and curriculum materials were provided to the board so members could review content even though the class, as described, would not be an accredited credit‑bearing course at the middle level.
Board members and administrators asked that staff include the materials on the board agenda so trustees could view the curriculum and the cost details before the district pursues licensing or program start dates.
The district said it will monitor enrollment interest, run a pilot section, and bring any contract or budget request to the board if the pilot indicates the program should continue or expand.
