Committee reviews Act 18 device purchases and high-school textbook adoptions

At the June 16 Committee of the Whole, the curriculum committee presented recommended instructional-material purchases and a technology procurement for Act 18 programs.

Act 18 technology purchase Curriculum staff brought a proposal for Chromebooks, computers and charging carts for Act 18 programs (Vision Impairment, ASD, MOCI and work-skills programs). Presenters said the devices are included in the Act 18 budget and that the purchase is funded from that program budget; the committee said the item will appear on the regular board agenda for a vote at the next meeting.

Textbook adoptions and digital licenses The committee recommended several high-school textbook purchases and digital-license bundles: - Humanities (new single-volume replacement split by semester): purchase of 210 bundled print + digital packages and 65 additional digital-only licenses for six years of access; cost presented at $73,947.50. The adoption replaces a 2009 edition and provides semester volumes and online platform access. - AP Microeconomics (supplemental online materials): recommended purchase of online licenses and an AP practice supplement called Strive for 5 for microeconomics; cost presented at $24,898.34. Presenters noted AP Micro is currently offered at Stevenson and the supplemental materials help students keep skills current ahead of the May AP exams. - AP Macroeconomics: committee recommended bundled textbooks and digital licenses for macroeconomics across the three high schools plus a supplemental Strive for 5 product; cost presented at $55,681.61. Both AP adoptions were tested or piloted by teacher committees and the selection process included teacher pilots and review of alignment to the updated AP test specifications.

Funding and instructional rationale Staff said the textbook purchases are supported by the district’s general fund textbook budget that has been restored in part by Wayne County enhancement millage dollars; textbooks and digital platforms were described as giving teachers current materials and students multiple access modes (print and online). Committee members asked about digital versus print usage, book loss and which elective areas still need updates; staff said core courses are largely updated but some elective materials remain to be refreshed in future adoption cycles.

Next steps Committee members and staff said the purchases will appear on the regular agenda for board action at the next meeting and that the Act 18 device purchase is funded through the Act 18 program allocation.

Ending Board members praised the review process and asked staff to provide a short list of remaining elective-area adoptions planned for future years.