Board asks for a curriculum review/catalog and greater website transparency ahead of major ELA adoptions

Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools trustees discussed conducting a curriculum audit or a lighter internal curriculum review and cataloging process to increase transparency and align instructional materials with the district’s strategic plan.

Several board members said they want parents and the community to be able to see which curricula and resources are used at each grade and subject. "Putting the cadence of reviews on a timeline on the website so they know that like for the next two years we're going to be doing social studies" was suggested by a director. Administration described options: (1) a comprehensive external audit (typically third-party, 4–5 months, cost often $50,000–$60,000) that evaluates alignment with state standards and produces a gap analysis; or (2) an internal review/cataloging of curriculum resources and adoption timelines, which can be paced by subject and published incrementally.

Nut graf: The board framed the work against a new strategic plan priority that students receive rigorous, relevant instruction. Directors favored a staged approach: build a clear, public catalog (publisher, year, standards alignment) and publish review timelines while reserving the option to commission a formal audit for core subjects if needed.

Administration said math and elementary work is largely complete; social studies and ELA alignments will be next. Superintendent Thomas said ELA adoption will be a statewide focal point and likely the next major adoption. The district will bring proposed options and timelines to an upcoming academic work session in June for board direction.

Ending: Administration will prepare a recommended approach (internal review vs. external audit), a timetable for publishing curriculum materials to the district website, and an estimated cost for any third‑party audit, and will present that plan in June.