The Mathews County School Board took up the somewhat contentious issue of textbook adoption Tuesday night, with the board approving five high school science texts, as well as two for a new family and consumer science elective to be offered at Thomas Hunter Middle School.

The board also tabled for one month adoption of two middle school reading/language arts books for grades 5 through 8, to allow school board members an opportunity to review that material more thoroughly.

All of the board’s actions (both the adoptions and tabling for one month) were approved by 4-1 margins, with school board member Bobby Dobson casting the lone nay vote in all instances.

At the meeting, which was held in the Mathews High School media center, Dobson expressed his desire to table all of the proposed textbook adoptions until Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s new State Board of Education has the opportunity to come out with a new list of recommended textbooks.

The science books approved for MHS cover biolo...