In an effort to keep textbooks current, the Homewood-Flossmoor District 233 school board approved spending $173,700 to replace a dozen books.
Nancy Spaniak, director of curriculum, instruction and professional development, told board members H-F has in place a textbook adoption form that allows teachers to review books after they’ve been used for five years.
One of the books to be replaced has been used for five years, but the others have been in service an average of 10 years. The district is replacing books for calculus, welding, small gas engine, child development, driver’s education, health, biology, psychology, applied life skills and French.
The purchases include not only printed books, but also online and electronic resources that help keep materials current and assist students with materials that can enhance learning, Spaniak said.
Once the new books are available, the old textbooks are “resold to used book vendors,” Spaniak explained. “We also donate books to interested organizations, and we recycle books whose shelf life is depleted.”
This year H-F will pay for the books. In the past, the district would have received partial reimbursement from the state of Illinois.
The board also agreed to a contract for $534,500 with FieldTurf Tarkett Co. of Calhoun, Ga., for artificial turf for the H-F track. The 10-year-old turf will be replaced in June. The bid was $25,000 under budget because the purchase was bid through the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance, said Business Manager Ken Parchem.