"I'm not saying this is wrong. Students need textbooks to learn. I'm saying it should be presented in a timely manner," he said.

Ms. Emery agreed and said she would begin working on the next curriculum rewrite sooner.

"We'll start the math one right out of the box, probably in September," she said.

In other business:

n Business manager Dave Sinopoli presented the latest draft of the district's budget. Though a four-mill tax increase has been factored into the budget, the district is still facing an $83,000 deficit. But Mr. Sinopoli said that can be eliminated using a percentage of the district's fund balance, a surplus of money saved from year to year. The board has to approve the budget by the end of the month. They plan to vote on it at their regular meeting next Tuesday.

n A company based in Ohiopyle wants to use Shikellamy's school colors to sell teddy bears at Giant supermarkets. Mr. Sinopoli told the board the company, the name of which he could not recall, contacted him to get permission to use the colors. He believes they may have contacted other local districts, but he had not contacted them to verify that. He said Giant has entered into a contract with the company to sell the bears, with the school colors, at its stores. The company has agreed to provide the district with either 7 percent or 8 percent of whatever Giant buys, Mr. Sinopoli said. The district wouldn't have to pay anything. The board told him to contact the company and give them permission to use the district's colors.

Following their meeting, the members went into executive session to discuss a personnel issue.

n E-mail comments to rscott@dailyitem.com.