Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Health Curriculum topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Subcommittee discusses CATCH health curriculum pilot for grades 3–5; cost and rollout details reviewed
Summary
Staff presented a proposal to pilot CATCH Health Journeys for grades 3–5, a digital health curriculum the district would license per school at about $349; presenters said the program could replace older Botvin LifeSkills materials and cost less than current Quaver subscriptions.
District staff on March 6 discussed piloting CATCH Health Journeys for grades 3–5, a digital, subscription-based health curriculum the presenter said is already used in districts of similar size and is on the state’s recommended list.
Staff said CATCH offers an online instructor resource and digital materials that wellness and PE teachers can carry on Chromebooks, avoiding paper copies and per-user charges. The presentation laid out a per-school subscription price of $349 and an estimated total district cost of roughly $4,000 to cover all 12 elementary schools (including two K–8 buildings), compared with about $7,200 the district now spends on Quaver for four schools.
Why it matters: presenters said the current Botvin LifeSkills middle-school curriculum has not been updated since about 2015–2016, lacks digital subscription access to recent units (for example, vaping content), and has seen materials lost in transitions. The new platform would standardize health instruction across elementary schools and give wellness teachers consistent digital resources.
Implementation and alignment: staff reported they have discussed the platform with elementary teachers in PLCs and that pilot work is planned in trimester 3. The district would prioritize dual-language openings when screening candidates (when applicable) and align the CATCH scope and sequence to the district’s existing materials to ease teacher transition. Staff noted other nearby districts using the program include Boston Public Schools, Revere and New Bedford.
Cost comparisons and procurement: presenters provided a price comparison showing CATCH would cost less than renewing existing Botvin materials and less than continuing Quaver at current per-site pricing. Staff described the item as eligible for a referral or procurement discussion, but at the meeting presented it primarily for committee information and asked schools to review the platform during scheduled PD.
Ending: Staff said the committee could consider a formal referral or procurement step later; the item was presented as a pilot and information-sharing opportunity at this meeting.
