Exeter Township SD to seek board approval for new grade 7–8 ELA resource with six-year license

Superintendent Dr. Christy Haller and junior-high staff presented a recommended primary English language arts resource for grades 7 and 8 and told the Exeter Township School Board Committee of the Whole that the district will present the purchase for formal approval at the board’s March 18 voting meeting.

The administration said the package includes teacher hard copies, student consumable books issued each year, and a digital license providing 24/7 access for teachers and students for six years. Dr. Josh Hoyt, director of teaching and learning, said the district vetted multiple publishers and chose a resource the department judged aligned to Pennsylvania standards.

“The teachers and students also have access to the resources 24/7 as well, and that would be for six years,” Dr. Hoyt said. He described a multi-step review that narrowed the choices to three primary core resources and included input from the junior high language arts department chair and the high school language arts department to protect 7–12 articulation.

Board member Allison Wilson asked why the district selected a six‑year license instead of shorter terms. Dr. Hoyt replied that publishers typically incorporate interface updates into long‑term agreements and that a shorter license often raises per‑year costs. He also said the six‑year package includes shipping paid up front and six hours of professional development for teachers. The administration noted one vendor quote was originally about $22,000 but that district staff negotiated reductions in shipping and other costs; a separate comment said shipping reductions saved “over $2,000.”

Board members pressed how the district will handle items flagged as “inadequate” on the vendor evaluation rubric. Dr. Hoyt said teacher groups complete a rubric, reach consensus within the department, and the district will plan targeted professional development and technical support where the rubric showed needs.

Administration said the purchase is planned in next year’s budget; the committee clarified that if the board votes to approve the purchase at the March 18 voting meeting, the expense will be incorporated into that budget. No formal purchase vote occurred at the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Procurement and implementation details — the final contract price after negotiations, the exact vendor name, per‑year budget impact and invoice schedule — were not specified in the committee discussion and will be included in the materials for the March 18 meeting, the administration said.

Board members and the administration said teachers remain the primary influence on classroom instruction and that the adopted resource will be one of several materials used to meet Pennsylvania standards.

The board will consider formal approval of the grade 7–8 ELA resource at the March 18, 2025 voting meeting.