Board pins $700,000 worth of hopes on new math curriculum

UPPER POTTSGROVE >> The Pottsgrove School Board unanimously, and enthusiastically, approved the adoption of new math and language arts curricula for to the tune of more than $700,000.

The new math curriculum for grades K through five is called “Math in Focus” from Mifflin Harcourt and replaces the district’s previous curriculum called “Everyday Math.” The cost is up to $147,011 and includes materials and licensing for six years.

Pottsgrove has struggled to raise its math scores in recent years despite having reconfigured the elementary schools into “grade centers” five years ago.

At the time of that vote, then-superintendent Bradley Landis said the centers would not only save money, but keep moving the district forward in facing the challenge of new curriculum standards and the ever-rising test score requirements of the federal No Child Left

Behind law.

Landis said in 2012 he hoped that rising scores on the SAT and PSSA in coming years would convince opponents that changing to centers was the right course to take.

Since then, some board members have blamed the math curriculum for lack of progress.

A recently purchased updated version of “Everyday Math” was the target of criticism by board member Rick Rabinowitz two years ago when math scores fell below the state average.

“I am almost ready to throw the baby out with the bath water in terms of curriculum,” Rabinowitz said at the time. “It’s not working.”

Even former superintendent Shellie Feola conceded the new math curriculum “was not as aligned as it was marketed to be” with new statewide math standards.

And just last year, the same elementary math curriculum was the subject over which a shouting match among board members and Feola erupted.

By contrast, many school board members Tuesday praised the inclusiveness and hard work by the curriculum, technology and student affairs committee, and those who worked with them, that went into choosing all the new curricula.

“This was hours and hours of work and a lot of late nights,” said School Board President Matt Alexander. “This is the best adoption process I’ve seen since I’ve been on board. We had input from every stakeholder at every level.”

“This is the most important vote I will ever take during all my time on the board,” said Rabinowitz.

Board member Bill Parker, who often questions new spending, said “it’s clear we need new resources and this curriculum was chosen by the teachers, who are the ones who should be doing it. I hope we see results quickly.”

For grades six through 12, Pottsgrove chose the “Evisions Mathematics” curriculum by Pearson, also licensed for six years, for a nearly identical cost of as much as $147,280. In the middle school, this new curricula will replace “Connected Math” and in the high school will provide materials for Algebra and Geometry and replace “Carnegie Learning.”

The new K through five English curriculum will be “Reading Wonders” by McGraw Hill, for a six-year licensing period at a cost not to exceed $334,935.

In the upper grades, the new English curriculum will be provided by “My Perspectives” by Pearson.

At a cost not to exceed $82,424, it will replace the current curriculum and

“This curriculum was chosen by the teachers, who are the ones who should be doing it. I hope we see results quickly.” Bill Parker, Pottsgrove School Board member

also be licensed for six years.

All total, the cost could be as much as $711,650 but board members pointed out that negotiations with vendors are still ongoing and the price may well be driven down further.