Which will be the best math textbooks for Jamestown Public Schools students in grades kindergarten through eighth?

Currently the district is piloting two math curriculum programs, and an update was given Tuesday to the Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education.

In December 2023, Tina Sandstrom, Jamestown Public Schools assistant superintendent for instruction and school improvement, said the process was started. She said it is the same process that was used when the district selected its literacy curriculum.

“It’s just that now we had some more practice with it the first time around. And so this process has really just become more streamlined, I think, and more efficient,” Sandstrom said.

Michelle Buccola, Persell Middle School assistant principal, noted that the goal is to determine which is the best math textbook to use, “and how it will best meet the needs of our students, K through eight.”

Buccola added that a steering committee was formed in the spring and looked at a set of criteria to determine which textbooks would meet the needs of district students. The 24-member committee included teachers, coaches, principals, and district administrators. The two books that are being piloted, Buccola, said, are HMH Into Math, and SAVVAS enVision. During the meetings, teachers are shown lessons from SAVVAS and HMH, so they are familiar with both programs.

“And then in the summer of 2024 our piloting teachers were given lots of professional development, so that they would be able to implement these textbooks in their classrooms. We spent the fall of 2024 really engaging in these textbooks,” Buccola said.

Buccola noted that teachers have been meeting monthly to provide feedback, and to discuss pros and cons.

On Jan. 31, 2025, K-through-eight teachers will vote district wide, on which math textbook will best serve district students.

There are 33 K-through-eight teachers piloting the SAVVAS enVision Textbook, and 51 K-through-eight teachers piloting the HMH textbook.

At Lincoln Elementary, Principal Katie Russo has one class of students using SAVVAS, and another class using HMH.

“It’s been great,” Russo said. “In my school, I have both programs going, and so it’s been nice going in and visiting classrooms. … It’s exciting because it’s been long overdue that we have needed a new math program.”

The school board will hear the vote results in February 2025.