Carter Pinkleton, the Franklin County district STREAM instructional coach, told the school board the STREAM program's mobile lab, classroom visits and teacher supports will continue next year and announced public review dates for a new science textbook adoption.

Pinkleton said the STREAM van visits all eight elementary schools once a semester and brings hands-on materials such as Botley robots, Colby mouse coding tools, Snap Circuits and two sets of VR goggles for classroom experiences. Teachers receive training while students rotate through activities; Pinkleton said the arrangement doubles as student instruction and professional development.

"I take the STREAM van to all 8 elementary schools once a semester," Pinkleton said, adding that she has co-taught STEM lessons in 20 middle-school classes and led VR experiences in 12 classrooms so far this year. She described newsletter outreach to teachers, training videos accessible by QR code and a working document crosswalking current standards to the new science standards to support curriculum adoption.

On the textbook adoption timeline, the district will make sample materials available for public inspection at the central office from Feb. 3 through Feb. 7, Pinkleton and the director said. A committee of about 20 teachers representing elementary, middle and high schools will narrow the district's top three textbook selections for board consideration. The director stressed that textbook adoptions are state-approved and that many publishers now bundle online resources with materials.

Pinkleton also said she has redirected central STREAM funding to elementary and middle schools this year to meet classroom needs and that she plans to expand teacher training and support for the new science curriculum and instructional practice guide next year.

Board members and staff discussed involving the Franklin County Education Foundation in grant-writing and documentation for VR and STREAM activities; Pinkleton confirmed the foundation has supported STREAM efforts.

No textbook adoption vote was taken at the meeting; the public review runs Feb. 3'7 at the central office.