Ralston Public Schools staff recommend VISTA curriculum for English learners; board discussion precedes purchase request

Ralston Public Schools English learner teachers recommended that the board approve the purchase of the VISTA English learner curriculum after a multi‑month review and pilot of two vendors.

The presentation, given by Bridal Barna (English learner specialist, middle school), Megan Bunn (EL teacher, Ralston High School) and Katie Raskershek (EL teacher, Ralston High School), described a pilot that began after a January selection process, expedited in March when district funding became available. The teachers said their secondary EL team sampled Cengage and VISTA materials in March–April, trained in Zoom sessions and then voted unanimously in May to adopt VISTA for use across newcomer and level 1–3 secondary classes.

Staff said VISTA was chosen because it was designed specifically for English learners, includes cultural relevance and scaffolds for students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE), integrates language and content instruction (science, social studies, math), provides better instructional supports and visuals, and ties directly into the district’s platforms. “It integrates both with Clever and Google Classroom, which makes our life a lot easier,” Megan Bunn said. Teachers emphasized built‑in speaking practice and a digital platform that lets students record and practice oral language.

The presenters described the district’s pilot timeline and next steps: purchase later in the week following the presentation (if approved), district teacher prep in August, rollout in the fall, and ongoing collaboration with metro districts using the same curriculum. They also noted VISTA offers beginning/mid/end‑of‑year diagnostic assessments and unit checks to help identify skills gaps and to guide targeted interventions.

In comparing options, teachers said their prior experience with Cengage included recurring technology problems, less effective listening/speaking practice, weaker scaffolding and lack of integration with the district’s classroom platforms. “One of the things...we talked about as a secondary team is a need for more speaking practice,” a presenter said; she added VISTA’s platform includes recording/echoing features that allow staff to hear and track student oral practice.

Board members asked about pencil‑and‑paper options (teachers confirmed student workbooks are available in print and online), assessment cadence and supports for students who enter mid‑career (presenters said newcomer materials are heavily image‑based and designed to support late entries into the program). Teachers told the board they aligned exit criteria for seventh–twelfth grades at a June 20 meeting.

The transcript records a motion introduced earlier in the meeting to “approve the purchase of English language learner curriculum from Bestop,” but the presentation team repeatedly referred to VISTA as the recommended program and the transcript does not record a completed vote on the VISTA purchase. Cost and vendor contract details were not specified in the portion of the record provided. The presenters asked that, if approved, the district purchase the curriculum later that week to allow teacher preparation in August.

If the board votes later to approve purchase, staff said they will proceed with ordering, teacher training and a fall rollout; if the board defers, staff said they would seek clarification about funding timing and next steps.

The presentation took place during the agenda item on curriculum adoption and included sample materials from both vendors for board review.