Goshen School Board approves math curriculum
May 14—GOSHEN — While the state's approved "high-quality curricular materials" list has not yet been released, Goshen Community Schools Board of Trustees voted to approve Eureka Math² to its elementary curriculum.
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Tracey Noe said she's been in contact with state officials who told her that the hold-up is at the high school level and confirmed, via email, that Eureka Math² will be on the list, which is expected to be published next month.
Goshen Community Schools Superintendent Jim DuBois said the push to approve the program before the list is out is because of the need to train teachers over the summer.
In 2023, the district was set to approve the Eureka Math² program when the state decided to provide a list of options for vendor curriculum programs. A streamlining of the K-12 in STEM courses required by HEA 1251 also found that the IDOE should publish a list of "high-quality curricular materials" to guide schools when adopting new curricula.
During the April 22 board meeting, Eureka Math² was approved only if made the list, but at Monday night's meeting, it was approved entirely.
OTHER ITEMS
—Goshen Community Schools will be piloting the state's kindergarten readiness program next school year.
—Parents, students, teachers, and staff should expect a cell phone policy survey soon. The board will use the results to determine the district's new policy.
—The board approved a bid for the new baseball and softball complex. An original top bid was rescinded due to a misunderstanding of the scope of the project, so the board voted to approve Weigand Construction for $8,458,033. In January, the company was approved as the construction management team and has since been deemed project manager.
Goshen Community Schools Director of Finance Bob Evans said the bond was $14.5 million and allowed provisions to use extra funds for other projects. With the bid coming in below that and below the original estimate of $14.2 million, the plans are to use the extra funds to do other necessary repairs and remodels such as roofing and boiler replacement. The company is expected to break ground in June, and teams are expected to be playing on it by spring 2025.
—The board honored Goshen High School Winter Percussion and Wind Ensemble for placing in the top 10 at state competitions. The music department was also honored for receiving the 2024 ISSMA All-Music High School Department award.
—This year's Rising Redhawk Award Winners were named during the board meeting:
Chamberlain Elementary School: Chandler Mullins
Model Elementary School: Mohammad Mashhour
Parkside Elementary School: Merie Denisse Chavez Herrera
Prairie View Elementary School: Noccoli Garcia
Waterford Elementary School: Valeria Alvarez Rivas
West Goshen Elementary School: Kimberly Alba
Goshen Intermediate School: Damien Albaugh
Goshen Junior High School: David Galicia Diaz DeLeon
Goshen High School/GAP: Jennifer Garcia
Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.
