Board approves pilot of 'Keys and Kingdom' music curriculum at Garwood Elementary with PTO funding

The board approved a one-year pilot of the 'Keys and Kingdom' supplemental music program at Garwood Elementary after staff outlined instructional benefits and cost details.

Assistant Superintendent Jake Nassy said the pilot would allow the school to access a classroom set of approximately 30 physical MIDI keyboards and that the Garwood PTO intended to cover the estimated $2,500 cost for the pilot year. Trustees discussed the district’s prior direction to limit classroom Chromebooks to state testing; administrators said the pilot would use Chromebooks in a controlled instructional context and recommended a limited pilot for the remainder of the year to evaluate effectiveness without changing district policy on devices.

Trustees raised equity and precedent concerns about bringing devices back into classrooms and asked staff to report on outcomes before any continuing subscription or expansion decision. One trustee noted that district-purchased keyboards could be purchased for roughly $1,200–$1,300 for 30 keyboards if the district opted to buy hardware instead of relying on a program subscription.

The motion to approve the elementary book set and the pilot program was carried by voice vote; the board asked staff to track costs and instructional outcomes for a future recommendation.