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District staff present middle/high school resource adoptions; recommends online world‑language platform
Summary
The board received an informational briefing on potential course resources for 2025–26, including a recommended six‑year subscription to an online world‑language platform (referred to in the meeting as "Lingo"), updates to AP/dual‑credit texts and smaller adoptions for art, quantitative literacy and academic readiness courses.
The West Aurora School District 129 Board of Education received an informational update on curriculum and resource adoption work for middle and high school courses that district staff say could take effect in the 2025–26 school year.
Liz Wendell, executive director of teaching and learning, walked the board through several potential adoptions. She told the board the largest adoption under consideration is an online world‑language platform identified in the presentation as "Lingo," which would serve middle‑ and high‑school level courses (novice through advanced, excluding AP) and roughly 1,600 students. Wendell said the district considered a shorter pilot and a three‑year subscription but recommended a six‑year subscription to obtain added customization and vendor support.
Wendell said Lingo’s library allows teachers to differentiate reading and listening texts by proficiency (novice low–high, intermediate low–high, advanced) and that the district’s World Language department sees potential savings because one platform could replace other subscriptions used in honors courses. "Lingo is our recommended resource," Wendell said.
Other items in the briefing included: adoption of an online flex curriculum for 8th grade art and design so teachers have a standards‑aligned resource; an academic‑readiness (ARC) text for roughly 200 students aimed at executive‑functioning and organizational skills; a quantitative literacy and statistics text tied to a recently approved course; updates to AP U.S. History (moving from a 5th to a 7th edition) and AP Psychology to align with College Board changes; and a dual‑credit psychology text recommended by the district’s college partner.
Board members asked about enrollment counts for particular courses and technical details such as integration with the district learning management system; staff said Lingo integrates with Schoology and that the vendor has been responsive in pilot work. For smaller adoptions, staff said timelines are designed so texts will be available when courses start.
The presentation was informational; staff said they will return with final cost figures, sample materials and formal recommendations for board approval.
