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Curriculum committee recommends new textbooks, a marching-band credit change and lays out middle-school math communications
Summary
The board received curriculum committee recommendations including two textbook adoptions, a change to make marching band a 0.25 optional after-school credit, a PSAT performance update and a plan to communicate middle-school math changes to families in grades 4–6.
The curriculum committee presented several items to the full board. Two textbook adoptions were introduced for review: a UConn ECE music course textbook required for the new UConn ECE offering at Newington High School, and a recommendation to adopt the novel All the Light We Cannot See for English 9 honors.
The committee also recommended making marching band an optional 0.25 after-school credit (separate from the 1.0-day course credit) so that students with after-school commitments can still participate in school band during the day. The board discussed roster risks if entire sections decline after-school participation, and staff said Memorial Day parade participation will remain a district requirement for the course.
On assessment, staff presented PSAT/SAT trends showing Newington performing above state averages in both math and evidence-based reading and writing, while noting a flattening or decline in math growth for some cohorts. The committee recommended tracking both mean scores and the percentage of students meeting benchmarks to get a fuller picture of student growth.
Finally, staff outlined a communication plan for middle-school math changes (including bridge-to-algebra steps and a proposed encore rotation) with targeted messages to current fourth through sixth graders. The committee emphasized transparency and parent engagement; staff will distribute the communications by Feb. 13 as part of the campaign.
