South San Antonio ISD board approves Bluebonnet math curriculum and Grade 6 algebra materials

The South San Antonio ISD Board of Trustees voted unanimously March 17 to adopt the Bluebonnet learning math curriculum for elementary campuses and to approve Bluebonnet materials for Grade 6 algebra I.

Superintendent Dr. Sal Hinojosa told the board the recommendation followed teacher and principal feedback and district surveys; he said the district will train teachers and form a review committee. “We are recommending that we purchase the Bluebonnet curriculum that really meets all the needs that I talked about,” Hinojosa said during the discussion.

The nut of the decision, trustees were told, is to give teachers aligned, rigorous curriculum and reduce the time they spend searching for materials. Hinojosa said the district will use instructional coaches and vendor-led training, and that Teaching and Learning (TA) agreed to support training and parts of the purchase. The superintendent said the district will form a committee of teachers, parents, board members and administrators to “audit the curriculum” and remove any content the committee deems inappropriate before it reaches students.

Trustees asked several questions about teacher creativity, curriculum continuity and whether the purchase generated revenue for the district. Board member Carla Gomez Sanchez thanked Hinojosa for providing data and community input; Kelly Murguia asked about safeguards to preserve teachers’ flexibility in lesson planning. Hinojosa responded that the vendor materials are intended to be usable while still allowing teachers to adapt instruction and that the funds will be used for classroom resources and teacher training, not to generate profit for the district: “The money is going to be utilized, to get the resources and also to provide the training for our teachers,” Hinojosa said.

Board members also described Bluebonnet as aligned to state standards and noted it builds on prior curricula (Eureka/Amplify) with state-specific adjustments. Trustees said teachers and administrators will be involved in implementation and review at every grade level affected.

The board approved both items by roll call. The vote on Item 8 (Bluebonnet general adoption) and Item 9 (Bluebonnet learning math curriculum for Grade 6/algebra I) was recorded as unanimous in favor: Raymond Tijerina — yes; Carla Gomez Sanchez — yes; Daryl Balderrama — yes; Aurelina (Adelina) Prado — yes; Jesus Rendon III — yes; Adrian Guerra — yes; Kelly Murguia — yes.

The district will convene the review committee, schedule vendor training for instructional coaches and teachers, and proceed with procurement and implementation steps laid out by the superintendent. Trustees said they expect further updates as training and initial classroom pilots proceed.