Olentangy officials propose midyear purchase of French curriculum after district pilot

Olentangy Local Schools’ curriculum director presented a midyear purchase proposal for French instructional materials on Dec. 16, saying a district pilot showed broad teacher support for the product, identified in the presentation as "Cheminz" from Vista.

"After reviewing a bunch of resources, the product is called Cheminz. It rose to the top," the director said, describing a multiyear adoption process that included summer training and classroom piloting in the fall. He said nearly all French teachers who participated recommended the program.

The proposed purchase would provide each teacher with a class set of textbooks and three-year digital subscriptions beginning in the 2026–27 contract year; buying now would give students digital access for the remainder of the current year at no extra cost from the publisher, the director said. The presentation emphasized that teachers will receive training and that the district will continue collecting evidence on what works.

Board members asked about the review cycle and the balance of print and digital materials; the director said the district now plans three-year digital licenses and expects to revisit renewal decisions before subscriptions expire. He noted the district has not done a full districtwide world-language review in about 15 years.

The board did not take a final vote on the purchase at the Dec. 16 meeting; the materials were presented for consideration and are expected to return for approval.