Chesterfield board approves new math curriculum, personnel exhibits and calendar; district removed from State Department fiscal watch list

The Chesterfield County Board of Education approved multiple administrative items at its March meeting, including personnel exhibits A–E, a new K–12 math curriculum recommendation and a modified 2025–26 academic calendar. Superintendent Dr. Anderson also told the board the district is officially off the State Department fiscal watch list.

Why it matters: Curriculum adoptions affect classroom materials and teacher planning; removal from fiscal watch indicates the state considers the district’s financial concerns addressed and may ease reporting requirements. The calendar and makeup-day decision affect school operations for students and staff.

Human resources: Dr. Hazard, the district’s human resources director, recommended "exhibits A through E" for approval. The board approved those exhibits by voice vote; the chair recorded the action as unanimous. The transcript records the motion and the chair saying, "All in favor, say aye. Aye. Opposed, nay. Unanimous." No further details about the individual personnel items were discussed on the public record.

Math curriculum: The board was asked to approve new math instructional materials for K–12. The district recommended I-Ready for kindergarten through eighth grade (including an eighth-grade geometry option) and Savvas for high school courses; the presenter said teachers and principals selected the publishers. A board member moved and a second was recorded; the motion to adopt the recommended materials was affirmed in the meeting record when a board member said, "So moved." The transcript does not list a roll-call tally for the curriculum vote.

Calendar and makeup day: The superintendent said employees voted for "option 2" of three proposed calendars and the board moved to accept the modified schedule for the 2025–26 school year. He told the board the district used all e-learning days during winter weather and had one closure on Jan. 23; the State Department worked with district staff to change the required makeup day from April 18 to May 22. "That makeup day will now be on May 22," Dr. Anderson said, adding that May 22 will be a full school day rather than a half day.

Fiscal status: Dr. Anderson announced that the district had received a letter from the State Department confirming Chesterfield County School District is off the fiscal watch list. "We are officially off the fiscal watch list," he said, and acknowledged district finance staff and the chief financial officer for their work in securing the letter.

Other business: The board also received curriculum and student-recognition reports (spelling bee winners and junior scholars were honored) and was given routine notices about reporting dates and upcoming meetings. The next regular board meeting was scheduled for April 7, with executive session at 5:00 p.m. followed by the public meeting at 5:30 p.m.

All formal approvals recorded in the meeting minutes were presented on the consent or action portions of the agenda and are reflected on the public record of the meeting.