Committee previews Rubicon Atlas unit plans, weighs 'New Culture' supplemental curriculum

Committee staff demonstrated the district’s Rubicon Atlas uploads April 28 and previewed an outside curriculum titled "New Culture," describing how the drafts would appear to teachers once published and the vetting needed before adoption.

The presenter said Rubicon holds draft unit overviews, module lesson alignments, clarifying statements, vocabulary lists and learning targets; teachers will not have access to drafts while items remain in draft status. "These are drafts. Teachers don't have access to this yet because it's not approved," the presenter said, describing the Atlas as a pacing guide and repository for supplemental materials.

Staff also described "New Culture," an updated scripted middle‑school curriculum the district previously used in a different form called "Making a Difference." The presenter explained New Culture pairs each lesson with a parent letter and emphasized the program's focus on relationship skills, self‑esteem and role play; however, the curriculum is not state‑adopted and will need internal vetting. "It’s not state adopted and approved, but it is something that we've used in the past," staff said, noting the committee would need to sit down with Dr. Stratas to determine whether to move New Culture forward as a recommended supplemental option.

Committee members discussed reserving New Culture historically for a single grade (seventh grade) to diversify instruction across the middle‑school years. Staff reiterated that anything coming from HAC would still need academic‑committee review and then full board approval before materials are published and distributed to teachers.

Next steps: staff will coordinate a review of New Culture with district leadership and Dr. Stratas and will keep Rubicon materials in draft status until the HAC and academic committee complete their review.