Board approves data and SEL contracts, opens textbook reviews and continues AI policy work
May 01, 2024 | Unionville-Chadds Ford SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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At its May 20 meeting the Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board approved two curriculum-technology contracts and advanced several textbook and policy reviews.
Ms. Anderson moved and the board approved a one-year agreement with LinkIt for data warehousing and analytics in the amount of $28,925. Ms. Anderson said the tool “will help us to manage our data, be able to pull reports for academic decision making, and really a very multifunctional tool.” The motion passed by voice vote (record reported as 8–0).
The board also approved a one-year agreement with Everyday Speech for approximately $11,049 to support consistent social-emotional learning and class-meeting materials across the district’s four elementary schools. Ms. Anderson said teacher leaders Cheryl Nelson and Megan Doyer presented the option at the April CINT meeting and the committee recommended it after a one-month community review period.
On curriculum reviews, teacher leaders recommended replacing Tom Sawyer in the 8th-grade creative writing curriculum with Fahrenheit 451 (text edition plus a graphic-novel edition). The board put Fahrenheit 451 out for a one-month community review and plans to vote on adoption in June. Jeremy Dixon, an AP teacher, proposed a new AP Environmental Science textbook; the recommendation is for 60 texts and a five-year digital license at a cost of $11,779.74 and will also go out for community review.
Board members received an update on the district’s AI committee, which is continuing work on academic, ethical, data security and policy implications; the committee will keep meeting as the technology and guidance evolve. Technology staff also plan to present results from recent pen tests and digital safety tabletop exercises at the June meeting, with possible policy updates to board policies 815 and 830 to follow in the fall.
These items will return for final votes or further review at upcoming committee or board meetings.
Ms. Anderson moved and the board approved a one-year agreement with LinkIt for data warehousing and analytics in the amount of $28,925. Ms. Anderson said the tool “will help us to manage our data, be able to pull reports for academic decision making, and really a very multifunctional tool.” The motion passed by voice vote (record reported as 8–0).
The board also approved a one-year agreement with Everyday Speech for approximately $11,049 to support consistent social-emotional learning and class-meeting materials across the district’s four elementary schools. Ms. Anderson said teacher leaders Cheryl Nelson and Megan Doyer presented the option at the April CINT meeting and the committee recommended it after a one-month community review period.
On curriculum reviews, teacher leaders recommended replacing Tom Sawyer in the 8th-grade creative writing curriculum with Fahrenheit 451 (text edition plus a graphic-novel edition). The board put Fahrenheit 451 out for a one-month community review and plans to vote on adoption in June. Jeremy Dixon, an AP teacher, proposed a new AP Environmental Science textbook; the recommendation is for 60 texts and a five-year digital license at a cost of $11,779.74 and will also go out for community review.
Board members received an update on the district’s AI committee, which is continuing work on academic, ethical, data security and policy implications; the committee will keep meeting as the technology and guidance evolve. Technology staff also plan to present results from recent pen tests and digital safety tabletop exercises at the June meeting, with possible policy updates to board policies 815 and 830 to follow in the fall.
These items will return for final votes or further review at upcoming committee or board meetings.
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