Lynchburg school leaderss discuss textbooks, Sandusky Middle School

By Annie McCallum
Lynchburg News & Advance
Published: May 21, 2008

Lynchburg City School Board briefly discussed proposed social studies textbook adoption recommendations Tuesday.

Susan White, LCS supervisor of instruction, told board members during Tuesday’s meeting recommendations are the culmination of a year’s worth of work.

Review committees within schools comprised of teachers and parents spent time with proposed materials before they went to division-wide committees for further review. The proposed texts would be used during the 2009-2010 school year.

The 11 textbook recommendations can be found online at http://www.lynchburg.org within the school board agenda materials.

One of the recommended texts, “American Government” by James Wilson and John Dilulio, garnered national attention in April. The Center for Inquiry, a New York-based think tank, said the book’s 10th edition presented skewed views of global warming and separation of church and state.

The 11th edition of the book has been recommended to the board for adoption.

The committee also recommended continuing the use of current materials for kindergarten through third grade, fourth and fifth grade Virginia studies and Advanced Placement European History.

The committee delayed the review of materials for fourth and fifth grade Virginia studies, agreeing to use the current text to give publishers more time to revise books to better suit recently modified Standards of Learning. The committee decided to continue use of the current AP European History textbook until school administration discusses whether or not to continue offering that course or replace it with AP World History.

Recommendations will likely be adopted at the next board meeting June 3 once board members have had an opportunity to review the texts.

In other news, the board:

- Received an update on the progress of the new Sandusky Middle School.

Blair Smith, of Dominion Seven Architects, presented board members with photos of the construction area from the current school’s roof, as well as the roof of neighboring Sandusky Elementary School. The shots showed a plain, flat surface and beginnings of a foundation. Construction on the school’s new track and football field has already started.

Smith said he would be back before the board next month to discuss construction bids. Construction is still slated to begin on time with the close of the school year, he said.

- Recognized E.C. Glass High School as a Blue Ribbon School Award winner.

“It’s not easy to get,” Superintendent Paul McKendrick said of the honor, “because you have to get superior performance from three of your music groups.”
The Virginia Music Educators Association gives the award.