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Bennington board approves new K–12 social studies, elementary music and career-technical materials
Summary
The Bennington Public Schools Board approved three major curriculum purchases: a K–12 social studies adoption ($611,466 over eight years), an elementary music digital curriculum ($70,000 over eight years) and 6–12 skilled and technical sciences materials ($41,713). Each purchase was approved in a roll-call vote.
The Bennington Public Schools Board of Education on May 12 approved three districtwide curriculum adoptions intended to update materials across grade bands and align instruction to state standards.
The largest purchase is an eight‑year K–12 social studies adoption with a proposed total of $611,466. Presenters told the board the committee conducted a yearlong review and recommended Studies Weekly for K–3, TCI for upper elementary continuity and a mix of publishers for secondary courses. “This is a year long process when we do any adoption process,” a presenter said during the committee’s overview. The committee emphasized that the recommended materials provide stronger civics coverage and digital platforms than the previously used texts.
Board members voted to approve the social studies purchase by roll-call after a motion to purchase the materials as presented.
The board also approved an elementary music curriculum recommendation for a digital program described in the presentation as Quay Bar, a web-based platform providing interactive lessons, 1,200 songs and student assessment tools. The district is seeking $70,000 from the depreciation fund for an eight‑year license and summer planning and training for implementation. Presenters said the program is “teacher friendly, create[s] creativity” and will supply assessment resources lacking in prior music instruction.
Finally, the board approved 6–12 skilled and technical sciences materials for middle and high school courses, including classroom sets, manuals and digital access. Presenters cited publishers such as Goodheart‑Willcox and Cengage for portions of the adoption and estimated the classroom and manual cost at $41,713. The materials are intended to support existing pathways (construction trades, drafting, health sciences and others) and to be periodically updated as software and tools change.
According to the board, the textbook purchases for social studies, music and career‑technical courses will be funded from the district’s depreciation fund; presenters said the overall set of adoptions remains under prior budgeted estimates. The next steps for each adoption are vendor training this summer, curriculum pacing and teacher implementation sessions ahead of the 2025–26 school year.
Votes at a glance: the board approved the K–12 social studies purchase, the K–5 music purchase and the 6–12 skilled & technical sciences purchase in separate roll‑call votes during the May 12 meeting.
