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Board backs print science texts plus one‑year worksheet subscription for grades 5–6 pending ordering details
Summary
A presenter for Dr. Angelo Picerno recommended buying print textbooks with a one‑year online worksheet subscription for 5th and 6th grades; the board raised concerns about edition currency, alignment to standards and lead times, and staff agreed to confirm budgeting and ordering timelines.
A visitor who represented Dr. Angelo Picerno asked the committee to consider supplemental science materials for fifth‑ and sixth‑grade classrooms and recommended option 4: purchase print textbooks and include a one‑year online subscription for downloadable worksheets.
The presenter (speaker S9) said the resource aligns with state standards and that 7th–8th grades already use older series while 5th–6th would benefit from supplemental print resources plus the subscription for reproducible worksheets. “I think... option 4... was purchasing the print only, and then having the, 1 year online subscription for the digital worksheets,” the presenter said.
Board members raised several concerns: one asked why an older edition had been recommended and whether the older book better aligns with state testing; others questioned student engagement and whether textbooks that rely on flashy pages are appropriate for students with shorter attention spans. Tyler (S2) and the presenter said curriculum staff had reviewed alignment and teacher teams had vetted options.
Members also discussed procurement logistics: whether funds were budgeted, vendor lead times, and whether the district should place orders before the next formal vote to ensure materials arrive by the start of school. The group expressed majority support for option 4 but asked the presenter and district staff to confirm lead times and who would finalize ordering (S9 said Dr. Picerno had prepared ordering details and would coordinate with Jessica and Effin).
The committee did not adopt a formal purchase motion at the meeting; staff will clarify budget inclusion and ordering schedule for the August meeting.
