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Committee forwards positive recommendation for Smithsonian Version 2 K–5 science kits after pilot
Summary
After a 32-classroom pilot, staff recommended—and the committee approved forwarding to finance—a positive recommendation to adopt Smithsonian Version 2 K–5 science instructional kits, noting teacher concerns about pacing and missing physical teacher guides for the newest edition.
The Teaching and Learning Committee voted to forward a positive recommendation to the finance committee to approve Smithsonian Version 2 instructional materials for K–5 science following a 32-classroom pilot.
Mysiak presented the pilot results, saying most teachers rated the resource as meeting expectations but identified two consistent concerns: lesson timing/pacing for 30-minute elementary blocks and the absence of physical teacher guides for the newest edition. "The flip side is that there are two things that contributed to the lower scores," he said, citing time constraints in elementary schedules and the lack of printed teacher guides for the new release from the district’s nonprofit partner. He explained that the partner (described in the packet as a nonprofit, identified in the materials as Einstein) will supply physical teacher guides after the district signs an agreement.
Staff told the committee that 32 classrooms piloted the kits and that pilot teachers used slide decks and an online platform in lieu of the printed guides, which pilot teachers said created a clunkier experience. A member asked whether pilot teachers had been aware of the missing printed guides; staff said yes and that scores likely would have been higher had printed guides been available.
After discussion the committee considered a motion "with positive recommendation to the finance committee to approve the Smithsonian Version 2 instructional materials to be used for K–5 science." The motion was moved, seconded and the Chair called the question; the motion carried.
What was decided: the committee forwarded a positive recommendation to finance to approve adopting Smithsonian Version 2 kits for K–5 science. The motion on the record listed the mover and seconder as recorded in the meeting minutes. The committee did not finalize procurement details (vendor agreement, final edition, or funding source) in the meeting; staff will bring price quotes and implementation details to finance as the next step.
