“Students in grades kindergarten through eight will have new math materials next year thanks to an $83,000 decision made by the South Whidbey School Board Monday night.The money will pay for two new math curricula and supporting material. Math Trailblazers will be used by the elementary school students, while the middle school will use Connected Mathematics.The high school math programs wasn’t addressed this year, but Dr. Martin Laster, superintendent of schools, said there will be $40,000 in next year’s budget for high school math materials.The board unanimously adopted the new curricula after literally years of consideration by various school committees.It’s been turned on and off every year due to budget problems, said Jim Adsley, board president. It’s been delayed three years.Now, said Laster, We have a product that will allow us to significantly move forward.One result of the decision is that middle school students will have math books to take home and study next year. That hasn’t recently been the case. They will definitely have books to bring home, Tim Gordon, assistant LMS principal, told Adsley.The two elementary school principals, Doug Hale at the intermediate school and Bernie Mahar at the primary school, agreed on Math Trailblazers, as did their respective school committees. There’s consensus between the primary school and intermediate school. That’s a big one, Hale said. Trailblazers is the best choice for our students.Pam Muncey, an intermediate school teacher, described Trailblazers as a very strong program.Trailblazers is designed to help students think conceptually and mathematically, and see math as a tool for the real world. Hale said it’s not easy for the kids. It’s a very demanding program, he said. We just need to expect it of them (the students).Mahar said all students will now have a common base of language, in math, allowing more time on-task.Gordon, the LMS assistant principal, said Connected Math is also a problem-based curriculum, which relates to other areas of study. He said students enjoy it because they’re trying to figure out something that’s real.Gordon described Connected Math as rigorous — it’s by no means dumbed-downed mathematics.Jim Gardner, high school math teacher, said the high school will adopt its new math curriculum next year. He said all the schools are working together on a transition plan, to make sure math concepts and teaching flow smoothly from school to school.We’re making sure everything is aligned, Gardner said. I’m really excited about the communication among schools.Laster said there is no single K-12 curriculum, or even a K-8 curriculum, available. So care was taken to make make sure the curricula chosen are complementary. “