The Superintendent recommends the Board approve:
1. The purchase of K-2 Mathematics materials. Because the district has postponed the adoption of K-5 mathematics materials, we must purchase K-2 consumables in order to meet the requirements of the Williams Act. Schools on the Williams Cohort are subject to an annual inspection to determine the sufficiency of instructional materials in their classrooms. Should the district fail to purchase K-8 mathematics materials by 2009-10, and ELA materials by 2010-11, the district will be out-of-compliance.
This recommendation will require an expenditure of $1.5 million. This amount is funded from non-flexible “carry-over” funds. The money to be used for funding of these adoptions cannot be used for other purposes and is explicitly restricted from consideration under the “flexibility” provisions in recent budget legislation. The state does allow flexibility for new Instructional Materials Funding Realignment Program (IMFRP) funds (approximately $6.5 million annually to district) but no flexibility for carryover funds.
2. The formation of a Digital Curriculum and Instruction Team (DCIT). The DCIT will be charged with the development of a plan to transition the district to an educational system based on electronic media and digital formats of instructional materials. The goal of this plan would be to transform San Diego Unified School District into a district that utilizes digital content for students to the greatest extent possible rather than maintaining an on-going reliance on textbook adoptions. The DCIT will be formed by the Chief Information and Technology Officer and the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and be comprised of 15 members including teachers, site administrators, and community stakeholders from business sectors.
Budget Strings: 5458-71560-00-4101-1000-1110-01000-XXXX
[Originator/Contact: Kirk Ankeney, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Office of the Deputy Superintendent, 619.725.7224, kankeney@sandi.net]