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Board holds first reading of 2025 textbook and curricular materials; AP Psychology and CodeHS among requests
Summary
District administrators presented first‑reading textbook and curricular purchases for 2025, including an AP Psychology online suite, CodeHS programming curriculum, a flight‑simulator upgrade and a biology pilot unit. The board heard cost estimates and the district's rental model for student materials.
Lyons Township presented a first reading of recommended textbook and curricular purchases for 2025, including a combination of traditional textbooks, online curricular subscriptions and equipment upgrades.
Scott (district administrator) prefaced the review by explaining the district’s long‑term purchasing approach: "One of the things I like to do is sort of look historically," he said, noting the district keeps class sets and pilots materials to extend useful life and control student fees.
Major items presented: - AP Psychology: The district will purchase teacher access and a student online package. The AP text listed at $166 per copy will be provided with a consumable/online access cost to students of about $39; staff estimated roughly 180 students in AP Psychology and said the district would cover a bulk purchase ($30,000) while students pay the consumable access fee. - CodeHS: A programming curriculum and teacher licenses (four teacher licenses requested) to provide structured instruction, sandboxes and grading support for Python and other programming courses. - Flight simulators and Take Flight interactive: The district proposed an upgrade to its aging 2006 flight simulator to a 2024 platform and an AI‑driven "Take Flight" interactive for private‑pilot instruction to provide individualized feedback and more realistic training scenarios. - Biology pilot and online resources: Teachers requested a pilot module to supplement the district’s storylined freshman biology curriculum; the proposed unit includes online teacher resources and a $5 per‑student portal fee for the pilot. - Consumable literature for English classes: The district plans to refresh and change optional titles and maintain a program that allows student choice; consumables remain charged as part of the rental/fee model.
Scott explained the district uses a rental model in which families pay a base textbook fee (historically $75 per student) that covers classroom materials; consumable and specialty materials carry additional fees. The board asked whether students who own texts can opt out of fees; administrators explained consumable fees may be adjusted if a student provides their own copy but the rental fee covers broader district costs and class sets. The district said it will return for a second reading and approval two weeks after the first reading.
No purchases were approved at the meeting; the presentation served as the required first reading and public display of curricular materials prior to adoption, as required by school code.
