Parma City board approves new K–5 literacy materials and related purchases to align with state reading standards

The Parma City School district board on Thursday approved a set of purchases to adopt a new K–5 English language arts curriculum and pay for related professional development and tools, district staff said.

District curriculum staff presented the recommended program and the committeeprocess that led to its selection, and the board voted to adopt the materials beginning in the 202526#8211;26 school year and to approve related purchases and training. The package includes supplemental literacy intervention materials, training for teachers and an English-learner data-management system.

The recommendation came after a multi-year review led by classroom teachers and curriculum staff, who said the choice was driven by state guidance on the "science of reading," teacher input and a desire for consumable student texts and decodable readers. "This series provides decodables and explicit practice in word work all the way up to fifth grade," said Amy Dermott, a curriculum staff member who led the presentation. Dermott described the committeeprocess as extensive, with Kthrough5 teachers, administrators and community reviewers examining multiple programs before arriving at the top choice.

Superintendent Dr. Charles Smialek praised the presentation and staff work. "That was really good and very thorough," Dr. Smialek said after the presentation.

Why it matters: District leaders said the change is intended to align classroom instruction with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforceliteracy guidance and recent state emphasis on foundational literacy skills. Board materials provided to members summarized that the adoption aims to strengthen phonological awareness, explicit phonics instruction, decodable texts and writing connected to reading, particularly in K2.

Cost and funding: District staff told the board the total package covers materials, digital access and professional development for a six-year window. Presenters said the current series the district uses (HMH/Into Reading) originally cost $825,000 in 2019 and that a straight renewal would cost roughly $808,000; the committee-selected program was presented as carrying a higher total price tag across six years but meeting state literacy priorities. The district reported receiving $155,000 from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to offset purchases and said it will apply federal Title funds (Title I and Title II) for portions of the work and use permanent improvement funds for the remaining cost so there is limited impact on the general fund.

Board action: The board approved the curriculum adoption and four related resolutions during the meeting: authorization to purchase supplemental literacy-intervention materials, purchase of professional development tied to the adopted series, the K5 English language arts materials adoption beginning 202526#8211;26, and purchase of an English-learner data-management and professional development system. Each resolution passed by roll call vote.

What presenters emphasized: Dermott said the committee prioritized programs that begin with phonological awareness, explicitly teach phonics, offer multisensory instruction and provide decodable texts that match taught phonics patterns. She also highlighted consumable student texts as a feature teachers requested so students could read and write in the same materials and take texts home at yearend. The presenters said teacher voice guided the selection and that staff spent many hours in after-school reviews and pilot work to vet options.

Board discussion and next steps: Board members did not request additional information at the time of the vote. The district said purchases will be split across approved funding sources and that materials and professional development will roll out to teachers before the 202526#8211;26 school year. Staff indicated they will continue teacher-led conversations about implementation and use teachersexpertise to refine classroom practice.

Votes at a glance: The board recorded roll-call approvals for all items listed on the meeting agenda, including curriculum purchases and several routine items. The resolutions specifically related to the literacy package approved at the meeting were: 2025-04-178 (purchase of supplemental literacy-intervention materials); 2025-04-179 (professional development for the adopted literacy curriculum); 2025-04-180 (K5 English language arts materials adoption, effective 202526#8211;26); and 2025-04-181 (English-learner data-management and PD system). Each was approved by roll call.

What the district will monitor: District staff said they will track implementation fidelity, teacher feedback and how interventions and the new materials affect early-literacy measures. Staff also said they will continue to use federal Title dollars and the $155,000 state grant to reduce the cost burden on the general fund and use permanent improvement funds for remaining purchases.

The board meeting also included routine votes on other resolutions on the agenda and an executive-session vote to adjourn into closed session on negotiations. Staff said no further public votes will occur in the closed session and that future public updates will follow as required by board policy and state law.