The Putnam County Schools Textbook Committee used a slightly different approach this year when adopting new science textbooks for the school system.
Putnam County Schools Instructional Supervisor Bubba Winningham said the committee is starting to look for textbooks that are considered high-quality instructional materials (HQIM). Winningham said the goal of adopting HQIM textbooks is to achieve better student outcomes.
“What these offer, you know, they incorporate those strategies and those resources to meet the needs of all the students,” Winningham said. “So diverse learners, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, you know, all those things. These textbooks, these curriculums provide opportunities for teachers to reach and support all types of learners.”
Winningham said teacher input plays a large role in adopting new textbooks. Winningham said teachers were able to get hands-on experience with the new HQIM textbooks before the school board adopted the new textbooks.
“We do have them, you know, teach a lesson from one of the state-approved lists that we are narrowing in on,” Winningham said. “Take it into their classrooms, use it, and see how it works in the moment, and so then they come back and provide feedback to others.”
The newly adopted science textbooks cost the school system an estimated $800,000. Winningham said the cost of textbooks normally doesn’t play a major role when adopting textbooks, but it did this year as the school system had a tight budget.
“We’ve looked at and we’ve tried to work with textbook adoption companies to see if we can split those repayments and see, you know, if they can help us out and we can pay percentages up front on year one and then again on year two. So sometimes that has to happen.”
Winningham said the textbooks will be ready for use this upcoming school year. Winningham said all textbooks were on the state list. Winningham said if parents have questions or concerns about the textbooks, they can call the central office, and the textbook committee will look into the potential issue.