Wisconsin Rapids board approves 6–12 ELA curriculum purchase, continues Playworks and renews Boys & Girls Club graduation support
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Summary
Board accepted updated 6–12 English language arts curriculum maps and approved purchases including Achieve3000 for up to $418,830, continued Playworks at elementary schools for $91,480, and a two-year memorandum with Boys & Girls Club to continue a graduation-support specialist.
The Wisconsin Rapids School District Board of Education on June 9 approved new 6–12 English language arts curriculum maps and the district’s recommended instructional materials, continued the Playworks elementary program and renewed a memorandum of understanding with the Boys and Girls Club to continue a school-based graduation specialist.
District curriculum leaders presented the proposed 6–12 ELA curriculum maps and the recommended instructional acquisition during the Educational Services committee report. Melanie Kozlowski and Abby Kriesa, identified as secondary language arts department leaders, told the board the new materials include a built-in screener and align to the 2020 state ELA standards. The district recommended purchasing Achieve3000 (through McGraw Hill) and CommonLit Essentials; the board approved the acquisition “in an amount not to exceed $418,830,” to be funded from the 2025–26 referendum curriculum budget.
The curriculum presenters said the recommended program’s integrated screener would replace the district’s current screener and produce an estimated savings of $148,000 over eight years by eliminating the existing screener purchase.
The board also approved continuing the Playworks partnership at all elementary schools for the 2025–26 school year. Roxie Fields and Steve Hepp described Playworks as a program that supports students’ social and leadership skill-building. The board approved funding for Playworks at $91,480 to be paid from the Stronger Connections grant.
Separately, the Educational Services committee recommended renewing the Boys and Girls Club memorandum of understanding for the school-based “Be Great Graduate” program. The agreement continues a graduation specialist position that supports students identified as needing help to stay on track for graduation; the board approved renewal effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.
Board members voted on committee recommendations in roll call votes recorded during the meeting. The items were presented as committee motions and approved by the board.
The district will implement the ELA materials beginning with the 2025–26 school year, and the Playworks and Boys & Girls Club agreements take effect on dates approved above.