Hopkins board approves Imagine Math for grades 6–8 after debate over process and community engagement

The Hopkins School Board voted June 2 to approve adoption of the Imagine Math (IM) instructional materials for grades 6 through 8, endorsing district staff and middle‑school teachers who said the program will provide a continuous K–8 math pathway.

Supporters told the board IM would align middle‑school instruction with the K–5 curriculum, reduce vertical gaps and give students consistent lesson routines. Janine Salzer, a veteran North Middle School math teacher who has taught and piloted the materials, said the change is "a problem‑based approach with direct instructional moves and a sustained structure across grades" and that the middle‑school instructional lift for teachers would be manageable compared with the elementary transition.

Some board members pressed for more public engagement before committing to a multi‑year digital license and multi‑year materials contract. Director Johanna Heyman and other members said the K–5 adoption involved a more expansive review process and asked why the middle‑school adoption followed a different timeline. "Curriculum decisions are among the most important decisions a school board makes," Director Heyman said, urging additional forums and stronger public explanation of differences in process.

Dr. Anne Erdle, director of innovation, design and learning, said the level of change at elementary was larger — both in scope and in number of staff — and that middle schools involved fewer teachers and a lighter implementation change. She also said many middle‑school teachers had already piloted IM and asked the board to weigh coherence and continuity across K–8.

The vote followed amendments to the consent calendar that pulled the middle‑school materials for separate discussion. The board approved the materials purchase and associated licenses at the meeting; the district noted the contract’s multi‑year digital license is a common cost‑saving structure and does not obligate the board to use the product beyond the licensed period.

What’s next: IDL staff will support implementation and teacher professional learning; staff said they will continue to use the district’s Educational Services Advisory Committee (ESAC) and other outreach mechanisms to solicit feedback, and several board members asked that ESAC meeting dates and materials be publicized more broadly.

Provenance: discussion and vote occurred in public at the June 2 board meeting; staff presentations and teacher testimony were part of the discussion.