Board approves multiple curriculum adoptions and gives first read to 2026–27 calendar after debate over digital vs. printed materials

At its April 13 meeting the Preston County Board of Education approved a set of curriculum adoptions across arts, health/wellness, and personal finance and gave a first read to the proposed 2026–27 academic calendar.

Curriculum staff recommended digital-first materials for several subjects citing the rapid pace of changes to guidance on health and wellness and the long-term annual costs. The committee recommended Quaver for K–5 wellness (interactive, subscription-based) and Glencoe/Glenco teen health materials for secondary health classes, plus SAGE for personal finance in grades 9–12. The committee recommended K–5 digital adoption and asked the board to consider whether 6–12 should be digital or textbook-based.

Administrators noted a one-time purchase of 6–12 textbooks would require a larger upfront cost (itemized in the adoption packet as roughly $45,000 for classroom sets across the relevant grades) but might be cheaper over a multi-year horizon compared with recurring digital subscriptions estimated at roughly $32,000 annually for secondary grades plus $12,000 annually for K–5 digital subscriptions. Board members and student representatives weighed the tradeoffs: some favored the physical textbook for note-taking and classroom use, while others favored the interactive digital resources for changing health standards and the possibility of remote access.

The board approved the recommended curriculum adoptions on the motion present in the agenda (Quaver for K–5 wellness, Glencoe health for 6–12, SAGE personal finance 9–12, K–5 music/arts resources and supplemental materials for secondary ensemble classes) and directed administration to obtain final cost quotes for a textbook-only 6–12 option to present if the board prefers a one-time purchase. The K–5 digital recommendation was affirmed by the committee.

On the calendar, a committee of 19 professionals, three service employees and a parent developed a draft that begins student instruction Aug. 24, 2026, preserves certain local observances and defines the Monday after Buckwheat as a professional learning day in the committee’s recommendation. The board approved the proposed 2026–27 calendar on first read and instructed administration to publish it for public comment; the committee also recommended keeping Good Friday and the Monday after Easter as out-of-calendar days.

Why it matters: Curriculum adoptions determine classroom materials and how teachers deliver required state content; costs and the choice between digital subscriptions and printed textbooks affect district recurring budgets. The calendar decision governs instructional days and scheduling for teachers and families.

What’s next: Administration will publish the calendar for public comment and will return with a final recommendation on 6–12 digital vs printed materials and any adjusted quotes.