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SCU ISD board approves new high-quality math materials, warns of recurring license costs
Summary
The Schertz-Cibolo-U City ISD board approved new high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) for grades 9–12—selecting McGraw Hill for algebra tracks and Savvas for geometry—after teachers and an advisory committee cited alignment and procedural support needs. The adoption carries an estimated $500,000 price tag and recurring license costs staff said will require budget adjustments.
The Schertz-Cibolo-U City ISD board voted unanimously on March 26 to adopt the district's recommended high-quality instructional materials for grades 9–12 mathematics, approving a package that places McGraw Hill in Algebra I and II and pre-calculus/AP calculus, Savvas for geometry, and other recommended vendors for specialized courses.
The recommendation followed a multi-month selection process led by the district's HQIM committee, which trained 23 teachers, held campus and community previews, and allowed every high-school math teacher to cast a vote. Serena George (HQIM lead) said the committee used teacher votes plus a trained committee tie-break process when teacher preferences were split.
"Teachers wanted materials that give students strong procedural support and a coherent vertical alignment across courses," George said during the presentation. "When items tied, the committee relied on training and alignment evidence to select the best fit for our students."
Teachers who reviewed the packages told the board some publishers offered attractive layouts but lacked consistent alignment to state standards or omitted key procedural steps students need. One committee summary cited supplemental videos and practice items that did not match lesson content as a concern when evaluating vendor materials.
Board members discussed cost and implementation timing. Staff estimated a $500,000 adoption cost for the 9–12 rollout and said the district expects recurring costs for online licenses and student access. To ensure classroom availability, the committee recommended purchasing classroom sets (about 25 student texts per teacher) and teacher editions, with online access for four years.
Superintendent Maloney and staff said the district will use the instructional materials allotment and can adjust IMA purchases and timelines to avoid long-term deficit during rollout. "Publishers are typically willing to work with district payment schedules," a staff member said, adding the district may stagger payments until the next allotment in September 2027.
The board approved the recommendation as presented and authorized staff to proceed with purchasing and implementation planning. The motion passed 7-0.
Implementation will include teacher professional development, staged distribution of printed and online materials, and monitoring of recurring costs during budget cycles. The district plans additional HQIM reviews for reading/language arts and CTE in the coming year.
