Instructional services and instructional materials staff updated the board on the science textbook adoption process for a multi‑year cycle and explained how campus committees evaluated publisher materials.

The lede: The district reviewed publisher submissions recommended or listed by the New Mexico Public Education Department and reported there is not yet a final purchasing decision; high‑school reviewers favored Savvas (the transcript names vendors as "Savas"), while elementary and middle‑school committees were split between Twig (Twig Science) and Amplify depending on grade band.

Why it matters: Textbook adoptions shape curriculum, teacher planning and professional learning for the adoption cycle and can influence digital access and Spanish/EL resource availability for dual‑language programs.

What happened: Academic services said the state provides a recommended list; district campus committees narrowed choices and the district flagged three verification steps before final purchase: confirm digital access and Spanish/EL materials actually exist and are fully supported; confirm long‑term maintenance (for example, consumable kit replacement cost); and confirm budget alignment. District staff explained the adoption will cover several grade bands and that the adoption is expected to run for multiple years; math will be the next adoption cycle.

Additional details: Staff said middle school review included the sixth grade because district middle‑school boundaries and sixth‑grade transitions were part of the adoption timeline. Presenters also noted the state’s culturally and linguistically responsive designation was applied to few materials in the reviews and that staff will continue to check that designation and vendor commitments before finalizing purchases.

Ending: The board received the update for first‑read informational purposes; academic services said it will return with vendor verification details and a final recommendation for purchase and professional development.