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Board hears first readings on elementary and secondary textbook/adoption recommendations

Murray School District Board of Education · December 12, 2025
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Summary

A committee recommended three elementary instructional materials to move forward and held back one book because members judged its refugee-related material too sensitive for elementary grades. The high school recommended The Small and the Mighty unanimously for 11th-grade US history.

The board received first readings on recommended instructional materials for elementary and secondary grades.

Director Tayo explained that state guidance and policy changes require the district to bring elementary instructional materials to the board for review. The committee reviewed four elementary books; three were recommended unanimously to advance toward formal adoption and one was not recommended because committee members—who include parents and school representatives—felt its content was too heavy or sensitive for elementary-level students and might be better suited to middle school classrooms.

For secondary grades, Dr. Eschler said the high school's committee unanimously recommended Sharon McCowen's nonfiction title The Small and the Mighty for 11th-grade U.S. history instruction and provided standards-alignment materials and reviews for board members to examine in advance of a formal adoption vote.

Both items were presented as first readings; no adoption votes were taken at this meeting. Board members asked clarifying questions and were offered additional materials and a chance to discuss the items in a study session before a final vote.