Huntington County board to consider recommended K'12 science materials March 23; preliminary cost ~$499,000
March 10, 2026 | Huntington Co Com Sch Corp, School Boards, Indiana
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District staff told the Huntington County Community School Corporation at its March 9 work session that it will return March 23 with a formal recommendation to adopt new K'12 science instructional materials for the 2026'27 school year. Jay Peters presented preliminary cost estimates and the process used to narrow vendor choices.
The recommendation for elementary schools is Discovery Education, which includes the Mystery Science resources teachers are already using, staff said. "Our recommendation is Discovery Education," said Lauren Hogue, the district's elementary professional-development coordinator. Hogue told the board teachers and parents reviewed vendor samples and used a checklist aligned to state standards to select materials that integrate with the district's Canvas learning platform.
At the middle-school level, staff said teachers reduced a state-approved list down to finalists and held local vendor presentations. "The top 1 was Savas," Lynn Brown, the district's secondary PD coordinator, told the board, noting the selected middle-school provider was roughly $400,000 less than the next option.
Peters provided preliminary cost figures during the meeting: elementary about $39,238.50; grades 6'8 about $211,008.49; high school about $247,006.12, producing a preliminary total just under $498,700. He said the district will present definitive cost numbers and a formal motion to adopt on March 23.
Board members pressed staff on funding. Peters said the district has an education fund balance that includes an earmarked amount for curriculum materials, and noted a one-time state reimbursement of roughly $750,000 in the past that the district does not expect to recur. "We are a rural district, and... we don't have a lot of money," Peters said when discussing cost negotiations with vendors.
Presenters described operational steps the district will take if the board approves adoption: order materials this spring so they arrive during summer, conduct quality-control checks on shipments (staff cited a prior ELA order that contained incorrect grade allocations), and schedule professional development in May and June so teachers are ready in August. Lynn Brown said the district will keep both digital and limited classroom sets where appropriate for students with IEPs or accessibility needs.
The board did not vote on adoption at the work session. The item is scheduled for a March 23 meeting when staff will bring final pricing and a formal motion for board consideration.
The recommendation for elementary schools is Discovery Education, which includes the Mystery Science resources teachers are already using, staff said. "Our recommendation is Discovery Education," said Lauren Hogue, the district's elementary professional-development coordinator. Hogue told the board teachers and parents reviewed vendor samples and used a checklist aligned to state standards to select materials that integrate with the district's Canvas learning platform.
At the middle-school level, staff said teachers reduced a state-approved list down to finalists and held local vendor presentations. "The top 1 was Savas," Lynn Brown, the district's secondary PD coordinator, told the board, noting the selected middle-school provider was roughly $400,000 less than the next option.
Peters provided preliminary cost figures during the meeting: elementary about $39,238.50; grades 6'8 about $211,008.49; high school about $247,006.12, producing a preliminary total just under $498,700. He said the district will present definitive cost numbers and a formal motion to adopt on March 23.
Board members pressed staff on funding. Peters said the district has an education fund balance that includes an earmarked amount for curriculum materials, and noted a one-time state reimbursement of roughly $750,000 in the past that the district does not expect to recur. "We are a rural district, and... we don't have a lot of money," Peters said when discussing cost negotiations with vendors.
Presenters described operational steps the district will take if the board approves adoption: order materials this spring so they arrive during summer, conduct quality-control checks on shipments (staff cited a prior ELA order that contained incorrect grade allocations), and schedule professional development in May and June so teachers are ready in August. Lynn Brown said the district will keep both digital and limited classroom sets where appropriate for students with IEPs or accessibility needs.
The board did not vote on adoption at the work session. The item is scheduled for a March 23 meeting when staff will bring final pricing and a formal motion for board consideration.
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