The Lawrence County School Board voted April 17 to adopt new K–12 science instructional materials following a districtwide review by teachers and a textbook committee.

Board members approved the adoption after presenters said the district set aside money for textbooks and the chosen materials come in under that allocation. The board took a recorded roll-call vote; all seven members present voted yes.

The adoption follows a multi-step selection process the district described to the board. A committee of teachers nominated by principals reviewed publisher samples after the Tennessee Department of Education published an approved list last fall. A planned February “adoption caravan” for teachers to meet vendors was postponed by snow and rescheduled for the April professional learning community day so science teachers districtwide could meet publishers and compare materials.

Presenters told the board the K–8 program selected will include student and teacher materials plus online access; high school teachers selected materials from Cengage for biology and McGraw Hill for physical science, chemistry and physics. District staff said the high-school package is priced at about $150,000 and that, overall, the purchase is expected to come in under the roughly $1,000,000 the board had set aside this year for textbook purchases.

The presenters said survey responses from teachers informed the committee decisions; they reported high participation from teachers across the district during the selection steps.

Board members asked about standards alignment and training. Presenters said all chosen materials meet Tennessee standards and that publishers will provide professional development on the district’s May PLC day; additional online support will be available after adoption. The K–2 materials include online resources and leveled readers tied to standards, presenters said.

Chairman Daniel called the roll after a motion to approve; the recorded vote was seven yeses and the motion carried.

The board directed staff to complete purchase orders so materials can be delivered and professional development scheduled before summer, allowing teachers time to preview and plan for implementation.