Board backs Beyond Textbooks IGA, previews new electives including 'Imprints of Honor' and American Music History

The Fountain Hills board approved an intergovernmental agreement to continue using Beyond Textbooks, a web-based curricular framework staff said has supported the district's improvement in recent years. Staff described Beyond Textbooks as a year-planning resource that includes formative assessments and a 'retach' model: students who do not meet an 80% formative threshold return for targeted re-teaching and retesting.

Board members described the program's local history: the high-school math department adopted parts of the framework in 2016 and district leaders credited the approach with contributing to improved ratings over time. Staff said principals monitor usage and that vendor user reports help confirm teacher engagement.

Separately the board previewed and discussed two new course proposals for next year. American Music History 101 was presented as an elective to expand student choices; staff noted college-credit arrangements could be explored after a successful first year. The board also reviewed Imprints of Honor (formerly the Veterans Heritage Project), a proposal to convert a long-running after-school club into a graded elective in which students interview local veterans, research and write two- to three-page narratives that are then published in a bound book. Staff said a teacher with prior experience is lined up and community response at Memorial Day events was positive. Members suggested opportunities to showcase student work at town events or in local media.

District staff also presented a memorandum of understanding to enable Imprints of Honor operations and a separate MOU for the Fountain Hills Protect Our Youth coalition; counsel reviewed both and reported no outstanding legal concerns. The board indicated formal approvals will proceed in upcoming meetings as needed.

The board did not record contentious debate on these items; members spoke positively about community partnership opportunities and student work products.