NLS board approves adopting new reading series

NEW LONDON -- The New London-Spicer School Board on Monday approved the adoption of a new reading series for kindergarten through eighth grade.

According to Superintendent Paul Carlson, the district will implement the Reading Street curriculum for elementary and middle school students for the 2011-12 school year. The district will also buy new textbooks for the high school American literature class.

"This is very expensive, but a very important component to education," Carlson said.

The cost of the new reading series is approximately $160,000 and comes from the district's capital outlay fund.

The NLS administration delayed purchasing a new reading program until the state academic standards were released in 2010 so the district could match the revisions to the standards, Carlson noted. NLS used the existing reading materials for 10 years, surpassing the usual replacement schedule of seven years.

The board also approved an agreement to sell the house built this school year by the high school ag structure class to Ace and Lois Sperr of rural Morris. Carlson noted the Sperrs contacted the district before the house was built and made payments throughout the process to have the home built to their expectations.

The final price has yet to be determined because of change orders to the construction.

Carlson urged anyone who is interested in purchasing the next house to contact the district office or ag instructor Jeff Gabrielson for more information. The goal is to build the home for less than $60,000.