Board approves literary programs

Students in grades 6-12 will have new materials in their language arts curriculum beginning next year.

The Fremont Public Schools Board of Education unanimously approved to use McDougal Littell’s “Bridges to Literature” and “Literature” programs at Monday’s monthly meeting.

Terry Snyder, FPS executive director of curriculum and instruction, said a committee of board members and teachers chose the McDougal Littell program over four other vendors.

The teachers who screened the materials were in total agreement to use McDougal Littell at all levels from grades 6-12.

“To have consensus on a single vendor ... is really a strong endorsement of this product,” Snyder said.

Along with textbooks, the McDougal Littell program provides DVDs and Internet access for students and teachers.

The board also approved the purchase of “Literature” from McGraw-Hill for use in the Fremont high advanced placement course.

Cost for the purchase of the new materials was estimated at around $152,000.

A proposal to purchase a new computer management system also was approved by the board.

Tom Reeser, executive director of business and support services for FPS, said the district’s current accounting software is outdated.

“We feel it’s necessary to make this change simply because we don’t know what the life expectancy is of our current product,” Reeser said.

The board approved to purchase the Infinite Visions program from Windsor Management Group. The cost for the product and conversion from the old system will be around $189,600, and ongoing maintenance costs are expected to be around $30,700 in following years.

The board also listened to a proposal from Cliff Huss of the FPS technology department about planned upgrades this summer.

Huss said new computers as well as an upgrade to the wireless infrastructure, file servers replacement, cabling projects and switch replacements are needed.

He estimated the cost for all the projects at $545,000 and will present final prices at next month’s meeting.

In other business, the board:

n approved a donation of $965 by the Howard Elementary School PTA for the purchase of five CD/cassette listening centers with six headphones apiece.

n approved for Milliken Park fifth-graders to go on an out-of-state field trip to DeSoto Bend in Iowa on May 4. CF Industries provided a grant to cover transportation costs.

n approved for a foreign exchange student to attend Fremont High School for the 2009-10 school year. The student, Ana Mattoso of Brazil, will stay with her host family Laura and Scott Frederick.