School Board Reviews Textbooks, Course Proposal

Eleven new textbook sets were discussed Monday by the West Bloomfield School Board for possible use beginning in the 2010-11 school year.

The books, for all grade levels, would cost nearly $400,000 and would update “current, outdated, worn-out materials that we currently use,” according to an enclosure by the West Bloomfield School District Curriculum Council. 

The discussion took place at the board's meeting at .  There will be a request for adoption of the texts at the April 11 board meeting.

Also at the meeting:

• There were public comments from , led by a prepared statement from Nancy Cooper, a mother of three children in the school district. The West Bloomfield Education Association once again protested outside of the meeting, drawing approximately 100 in the balmy weather.
• An AP Studio Art course was presented for review for possible implementation beginning in the 2010-11 school year. The one-credit course, which would bump the AP offerings of West Bloomfield High School up to 22, would “no doubt strengthen the school’s AP International Diploma status” and “prove cost-neutral” thanks to resources already in place, according to Assistant Superintendent Robert Martin. The course would be taught by West Bloomfield High School art teacher Margaret Squires.
• Bids were awarded for new metal framing, painting, resilient flooring, interior signage, masonry projects at schools in the district by a 7-0 majority to TMP Projects and Wakely Projects in the total amount of $574,012. The amount will be paid with qualified school construction bonds, according to Deputy Superintendent Thomas Goulding. “These are the low bids,” he added.