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Board approves HMH ELA curriculum after debate over AI add‑on and device rollout

Board of Education · January 30, 2026
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Summary

The Board of Education approved the HMH English language arts curriculum, including an optional AI reading tool called Amira, for $2,463,963.37 after questions about a possible 1‑to‑1 iPad rollout, screen time and training timelines; the motion carried by voice/raised hands.

The Board of Education approved the adoption of the HMH English language arts curriculum, including an optional AI reading component called Amira, with a purchase price of $2,463,963.37 at its meeting. Speaker 5 moved for approval and Speaker 6 seconded; the motion carried by raised hands and voice vote, with no recorded roll‑call tally provided.

Board member Rebecca (Speaker 7) urged more public discussion before finalizing plans that would expand online components and affect a 1‑to‑1 device ratio. "I think my main concern was whether we were adopting a curriculum that also included an online portion ... and if we purchased it, it was the license agreement for that many iPads," Rebecca said, asking the board to make device‑ratio and licensing plans public before moving forward.

District staff and presenters told the board the curriculum is primarily book‑based, with an AI add‑on intended for limited, targeted use. Heather (Speaker 9), who presented on the platform, said Amira can be used without a full 1‑to‑1 device rollout and recommended it for small‑group stations rather than daily whole‑class use. "If we don't go with the 1 to 1 initiative, it would still be a usable product," Heather said, adding that teachers could use Amira in small groups so students not at the teacher table receive targeted practice.

Staff described the AI feature as diagnostic: short, targeted usage (roughly 30 minutes a week, as described by staff) would produce reports that help teachers identify phonics or decoding needs, potentially replacing some quarterly one‑on‑one assessments and saving teachers time. Heather also said headsets with microphones are not required for Amira to function, though upgraded headphones with microphones (about $12 each) could be purchased from instructional or building budgets if desired.

District staff gave the board a compressed procurement timeline: initial decisions are expected by March, orders would need to be placed in early April to meet the quoted pricing, and presenters said the price in the proposal would expire before the next meeting unless the board acted. "That pricing would expire — it expires tomorrow," a staff speaker (Speaker 4) said, urging action that night to preserve the quote.

On professional development, staff said HMH training is scheduled for July 30, with on‑demand teacher resources and follow‑up professional development and coaching throughout the school year to support implementation.

The board approved the purchase without a recorded roll‑call vote; members approved by raising hands when asked for those in favor. The board announced its next regular meeting for Monday, February 9 at 6:00 PM.