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Board hears proposal for a new high‑school zoology elective, recommends one‑year digital pilot
Summary
Revere administrators recommended a semester‑long zoology elective with a one‑year digital textbook license to pilot content, citing accessibility features and roughly 18 student signups; the board took the item as a first reading with no action.
Revere school officials presented a proposed high‑school zoology elective and recommended piloting it with a one‑year digital license for the course text to evaluate content and functionality before committing to a multi‑year adoption.
Miss Roach introduced Ms. Hiltbrand, the teacher who would run the class. Hiltbrand said the course would cover naming animals, fossil analysis, comparative anatomy and other foundational zoology topics and that a digital text offers scaffolding, embedded videos, hyperlinked vocabulary and a text‑to‑speech option that could help students independently access material. "The digital is much more inviting," Hiltbrand said, noting the read‑aloud feature and in‑text summaries that reduce the barrier of dense print.
Administrators proposed a one‑year subscription to allow reflection and refinement before a longer adoption; the presenters said the physical book option remains available if families request printed copies. Current interest for next year is about 18 students; board members noted the course might be offered on a two‑year rotation to manage scheduling.
The presentation was a first reading and the board took no action; the presenters said they will return with any further cost and scheduling details needed for approval.
