District staff seek renewals for Renaissance Star, Nearpod and Newsela and preview textbook replacements

District staff reviewed a set of instructional materials and software renewal and adoption items, including Renaissance Star benchmark assessment renewal, Nearpod lesson delivery expansion, Newsela subscription renewal, and proposed chemistry/physics textbook replacements.

Staff said Renaissance Star, the district’s universal screener used three times a year for growth monitoring and IEP goal setting, is proposed for a three‑year renewal. Nearpod, which district staff said now integrates with Renaissance after a corporate merger, was credited with helping teachers deliver targeted lessons aligned to assessment results; staff recommended renewal at roughly $33,600 (a small increase from last year) and continued professional development to expand teacher usage across campuses.

Newsela renewal was presented with a one‑year contract cost of $72,822; staff described Newsela as providing high‑interest, leveled nonfiction content used across subjects and praised teacher uptake. Staff also discussed textbook needs in science: the district’s physics and chemistry textbooks are more than a decade old, and vendors told staff printed and online support for some titles will be discontinued in coming years. Staff described piloting new physics and chemistry options with teacher reviewers and noted an anticipated cost for updating physics and chemistry materials and licenses (staff cited amounts that when combined across subjects would be under $100,000 for digital licenses and PD for district teachers).

Teachers piloted materials and provided mixed feedback across campuses; staff said final vendor selection will follow teacher pilots and that materials will be phased in with professional development supports. No formal board action was recorded in the transcript excerpt; staff indicated these items would return as action items with contract details and costs for board consideration.