Tracy Area Elementary School Principal Michael Munson gave the District No. 2904 School Board some insight on new language arts curriculum at the school.
The new offering comes to TAES two years later than planned as the process of implementing it was pushed back pending State recommendations.
The curriculum, which will be introduced to students this fall, is called CKLA, or Core Knowledge Language Arts.
It has been called a comprehensive, content-rich literacy curriculum for grades PreK-5, developed by Amplify and aligned with the Core Knowledge approach. CKLA combines systematic foundational skills instruction with a focus on building knowledge in subjects like history, science and the arts. The curriculum aims to help students develop strong reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, while also expanding their vocabulary and knowledge base.
The district has entered a seven-year contract for $112,500.
“In the end, we felt CKLA was the best option for us,” Munson said, explaining that the State had recommended two different curriculum for elementary schools. It’s very deep into science and reading … it was not one of the curriculums that was picked by the State. A lot of districts have adopted CKLA.”
Munson said two AES teachers saw the curriculum in action this school year in Redwood Falls and “they thought it was excellent,” he said.
A vote at TAES showed teachers backing CKLA 6-1. TAES staff will be brought up to speed on the curriculum in an August workshop. New language arts standards set by the State are supposed to be fully implemented by the start of the next school year.
“We are going to be able to align our new curriculum with the new standards and do it all in one summer,” said Munson. “We’re going to be working on this for a whole week.”
Munson said one of the benefits of CKLA is that science and social studies are implemented within the curriculum; these are two areas in which TAES that could use some improvements in the lower elementary levels, Munson said.
“Getting this integrated in with language arts is really going to help,” said Munson.
Munson said the one aspect that staff felt was the school’s weakness has been writing, which he said should improve through the new program.
In other business from Monday … • The board approved a commercial lease agreement between TAPS and Kid’s World for the 2025-26 school year for $1,000 per month and another with Head Start for $500 per month.
• The board approved the resignations of math teacher Andrea Spanovich and Principal Tony Miller.
• The board approved the hiring of Chayse Ramirez and Nicolas Grimley as seasonal custodians from June 6-Aug. 29, 2025.
• The board approved the purchase of a service contract agreement between TAPS and Greater Minnesota Family Services for family mental health services, not to exceed $33,594.48.
• The first reading of the 2526 TAHS student handbook was given, with a number of revisions, as was policy 620, referring to PSEO classes. There will be no weighted grades offered starting this school year.
• A second reading concerning public comment related to the school board’s renewal of the expiring operating referendum authority was given and will be approved at the July 21 meeting.
• The board heard the first reading of a new digital ticket plan for athletis events, but no action was taken.
• Principal interviews will be conducted on June 26; four candidates to replace Miller will be interviewed.
• The board recognized and approved the following donations: an anonymous $40 donation for a TAHS scholarship; $1,500 from Idea Animal for an Ideal Animal scholarship $399 from the PTC to the Lego League; $472 form the Track Booster Club for a first place tech ramp; $2,250 from the Balaton American Legion ($1,000 each for the softball complex and trapshooting team and $250 for the golf team); and $4,000 from David Christensen for the Myrna Anderson Scholarship.
