North Hills highlights K–12 curriculum updates: new electives and equipment requests for arts, math and social studies

Doctor Williams reported to the North Hills Board of Education on March 5 on a set of curriculum proposals and related instructional needs across K–12.

Reviewing the art curriculum, Doctor Williams said the district is seeking replenishment and upgrades for high‑use materials and equipment: digital cameras, lighting, color printers and consumables; clay tools and a new kiln for pottery courses; and broadcast‑studio gear such as a camcorder, microphones and a teleprompter. “There are other districts out there that are cutting back on their art programs, and we’re not doing that,” Doctor Williams said.

For 9–12 math the district requested additional graphing calculators (five to 10 extra units to be housed in the library for student checkout) and new textbooks and licenses for CHS statistics and Algebra II. Doctor Williams noted that a recently added full‑year statistics course has grown to three sections for the coming year, and he said staff will present collected math‑help usage data at the math task force meeting.

In social studies, the district is proposing new electives: Holocaust and genocide studies and human and cultural geography. Doctor Williams reported roughly 75–80 students signed up for the Holocaust and genocide course and about 30 for human and cultural geography in its first run. The social studies department requested AP and sociology textbooks and other course materials; Doctor Williams said those purchases are required when courses are affiliated with partner colleges or universities.

The board did not take any vote on curriculum purchasing at the March 5 committee meeting; Doctor Williams said curriculum leaders will continue to refine requests and the math task force will meet March 9 (per the board calendar) to review data and next steps.