Brunswick County Board adopts Reading Horizons phonics program; board asks finance to prepare budget amendment

The Brunswick County Board of Education voted on March 5 to adopt Reading Horizons as the district’s K–3 phonics curriculum and directed finance to prepare a budget amendment to fund near-term implementation costs.

Jen Damon presented the adoption process and updated vendor quotes, saying teacher preference favored Reading Horizons: "57.7% chose Reading Horizons as the top choice," and she described outreach to teachers, parents and a cohort of high-performing instructors who preferred Reading Horizons by a roughly 39-to-11 margin in her sampled group. Damon also presented updated first-year cost estimates and noted device needs: to implement Reading Horizons as described, staff recommended touch-capable devices (iPads or touch Chromebooks) in classrooms.

During discussion, board members cited the program’s data-collection features and teacher support as reasons to favor Reading Horizons while also acknowledging a near-term budget impact. A board member summarized the financial difference as roughly $200,000 in the current year given the district’s K–3 population and device purchases; the board agreed that the cost would be absorbed in the near term but asked finance to move a budget amendment forward.

Miss Moffett moved to adopt Reading Horizons, saying, "I make a motion that we go with Reading Horizons because we need to listen to our experts." The motion was seconded by Mr. Barger and was approved by the board. The board then approved a separate motion directing finance/committee to prepare and submit a budget amendment so funds are available for implementation.

Damon emphasized there was not an obvious losing choice between the two finalists—Reading Horizons and Wilson Foundations—but that Reading Horizons’ real-time data features and teacher preference tipped the board’s decision. Staff will return with a budget amendment and an implementation schedule.