School committee approves $20,000 purchase of French textbook for grades 9–12

The Foxboro School Committee voted unanimously May 27 to approve the purchase of a new French textbook for grades 9 through 12 at a cost of $20,000.

Christine Smith, chair of the district’s World Language Department, said the textbook will support a district effort to align instruction to Massachusetts’s world‑language frameworks and to establish end‑of‑year proficiency benchmarks across K–12. "This will help us ensure an equal emphasis on reading, writing, speaking and listening throughout the program," Smith said during the presentation.

Members of the curriculum review team described a three‑year timeline to implement recommendations including differentiated instruction, clearer benchmarks and expanded pathways such as an emerging manufacturing pathway at the high school. The committee discussed enrollment fluctuations among Spanish, French and ASL and heard that the district has begun proficiency testing for all 10th graders.

A motion to approve the textbook purchase was made, seconded and carried on a voice vote recorded as 5–0. The committee packet and the curriculum review report will be posted on the district website for public review; more detailed course offering information will be presented at a future meeting.

The committee’s action funds the textbook purchase as described in the presentation; committee members said they expect staff to return with implementation details at a subsequent meeting.