Lehighton Area School District’s Board of Directors on Monday night approved the purchase of several new high school textbooks for science, anatomy, and U.S. history as part of the 2025-26 curriculum budget, following a series of roll call votes that included some board members voicing concern over content.

The board unanimously approved three of the four proposed purchases:

• High School “Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology” textbooks from McGraw Hill with six-year digital access at a cost of $15,993.78,

• High School Environmental Science textbooks from Cengage (National Geographic) with six-year digital access at a cost of $22,652, and

• High School Physics, Biology, and Chemistry textbooks from Pearson with six-year online subscriptions at a cost of $39,478.50.

A fourth textbook purchase — for High School U.S. History textbooks from SAVVAS with a five-year online subscription — was approved 5-1, with board member Duane Dellecker voting no after raising concerns about historical inaccuracies.

Science textbooks update

The adoption of the science books followed a presentation earlier this summer by High School Science Department Chairperson Melissa Blocker and Environmental Science teacher Guy Potts, who explained that many of the current materials were outdated, worn out, and no longer compatible with modern online tools.

Blocker emphasized that the department was purchasing curricular resources, not a new curriculum.

“Our current textbooks are 10-15 years old and falling apart,” she said, noting they also lack access to updated online platforms that students rely on.

Blocker said that teachers were given access to sample materials from McGraw Hill, Pearson, and Cengage to review between February and March. Ultimately, Pearson’s materials were selected for the physics, biology, and chemistry classes due to their alignment with Pennsylvania’s STEELS (Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability) standards and compatibility with the district’s Canvas platform.

She added that Pearson’s resources included customizable assessments, study modules tailored to students’ learning levels, and practice tools for students preparing for standardized tests.

Potts supported the adoption of the National Geographic Cengage series for Environmental Science.

“It promotes higher-level thinking and gets students thinking about their own impact,” he said, pointing specifically to content around sustainability and population studies used in Keystone Exam preparation.

Board member Barbara Bowes praised the teacher involvement in selecting the books.

“Thank you for being consulted and allowed to choose what you believe is best for the students,” she said.

Environmental

science debate

While the environmental science textbook was ultimately approved Monday, board member Jeremy Glaush noted it contained content that he felt leaned politically.

“It is very left-leaning, very bent on ‘settled science,’ ” Glaush said, using air quotes. “But I believe a good deal of it actually does talk about proper environmental science.”

He concluded that the textbook would be acceptable “as long as the teacher would teach all angles.”

Board members voted unanimously to approve the Cengage book.

U.S. history concerns

The most contentious discussion of the night surrounded the proposed purchase of U.S. history textbooks from SAVVAS. While the motion passed, both Dellecker and director April Walker expressed strong reservations.

Dellecker said he had taken the book home and reviewed it extensively.

“On first review, 90% of it is probably accurate and something we can work with,” he said. “But there are some fundamental errors in this.”

He criticized how the textbook described the right to bear arms and the founding structure of the U.S. government.

“It says the Second Amendment is part of a well-regulated militia. That’s not how the Constitution presents it,” he said. “It also refers to the United States as an indirect democracy. The founders created a representative republic.”

Walker cited several examples that stood out to her, including the presentation of the Second Amendment and the Mayflower Compact.

“The separation of church and state is presented as if it’s in the Constitution. It’s not. That idea comes from a letter by Thomas Jefferson,” Walker said.

Dellecker said he would work with the curriculum department to supplement the textbook and correct omissions.

“If you’re going to present one side of something, present both sides,” Dellecker said. “Kids are not stupid. Let them debate it.”

Despite the concerns, the board approved the SAVVAS purchase with a 5-1 vote.

Textbook selection process

At a previous workshop meeting in June, Director of Academic Programs and Technology Gretchen Laviolette outlined the selection process for the U.S. history textbooks. Social studies teachers reviewed materials from four publishers and narrowed the options to McGraw Hill and SAVVAS. SAVVAS was chosen in part due to its recent adoption in the district’s middle school social studies program.

Laviolette added that the SAVVAS option followed the district curriculum and came at a comparable cost to McGraw Hill — $14,159.25 for a five-year subscription with 90 textbooks.

She said professional development would be to ensure teachers were prepared to use the new materials.