Board hears request to approve Syracuse University Project Advance forensic textbook; approval status not recorded

District administrators presented a request to approve a forensic science textbook tied to a new Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) partnership, describing the book as the required resource for the SUPA course and saying teacher training is required for program delivery.

The presenter said the SUPA forensic program has specific summer training requirements for teachers and that the textbook was designed for the course, containing more than 1,000 photographs, diagrams, real‑world case studies and five basic units: introduction to forensics, biological evidence, chemical evidence, physical properties and behavioral forensic evidence.

The presenter described the textbook as aligned with university‑level standards and useful for students planning college work in forensic fields. “This particular textbook is specifically designed for this course. It is actually the required resource by Syracuse University Project Advance for this particular class,” the presenter said.

Administrators said any purchase would be covered from the district’s existing science textbook budget. They also discussed possible local partnerships for student exposure to forensic work — speakers named the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office and a Nassau forensic lab as local institutions relevant to the course.

The transcript records questions and positive comments from trustees and staff about the textbook’s quality and local relevance, but it does not record a formal motion or vote to adopt the text during the meeting. The presenters asked for approval; the decision is not specified in the excerpt.

If the board proceeds with purchase, staff indicated teachers will need to complete SUPA training over the summer before offering the course.