Board Meeting

4 Tuesday, October 7, 2025 Board Meeting 'This is a public meeting' THE SCHOOL BOARD OF HIGHLANDS COUNTY GARLAND BOGGUS BOARD ROOM 426 SCHOOL STREET SEBRING, FLORIDA 33870 5:30 p.m. (or as soon thereafter as may be practicable) PLEASE TURN OFF CELL PHONES If a person wishes to speak to the Board regarding an issue, please fill out a petition card located in the lobby and present it to the Board Secretary prior to the meeting. 1. OPENING ITEMS Subject A. Call to order and roll call of members Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 1. OPENING ITEMS Type File Attachments Subject B. Resilience Word/Program: Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 1. OPENING ITEMS Type File Attachments Subject C. Highlands Highlights Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 1. OPENING ITEMS Type File Attachments Subject D. Recognitions: Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 1. OPENING ITEMS Type Presentation File Attachments Subject E. Curriculum presentation Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 1. OPENING ITEMS Type File Attachments Subject F. School Board Member committee reports Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 1. OPENING ITEMS Type File Attachments Subject G. Presentation of petition, comments, concern or report Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 1. OPENING ITEMS Type File Attachments Subject H. Superintendent's Report Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 1. OPENING ITEMS Type File Attachments 2. ADOPT THE AGENDA 3. CONSENT AGENDA - ADMINISTRATION Subject A. Consider approval of minutes of the September 23, 2025 workshop and board meeting Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 3. CONSENT AGENDA - ADMINISTRATION Type Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Mr. Martin seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments 09-23-25 - workshop.pdf (11 KB) 09-23-25 board meeting.pdf (73 KB) Subject B. Consider Approval of the Heartland Educational Consortium (HEC) Member District School Board Agreement Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 3. CONSENT AGENDA - ADMINISTRATION Type Action Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Mr. Martin seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments HEC - Agreement between School Boards Final 915 (1).docx (37 KB) Subject C. Consider approval of the Heartland Educational Consortium (HEC) Resolution 2526-08 Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 3. CONSENT AGENDA - ADMINISTRATION Type Action Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Mr. Martin seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments RESOLUTION - for HEC SY25-26.docx (19 KB) 4. CONSENT AGENDA - LEGAL 5. CONSENT AGENDA - POLICIES 6. CONSENT AGENDA - CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION Subject A. Consider Approval of Amendment for SY25-26 to Agreement Between Catapult Learning and the School Board of Highlands County Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 6. CONSENT AGENDA - CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION Type Action Recommended Action Consider Approval of Amendment for SY25-26 to Agreement Between Catapult Learning and the School Board of Highlands County as submitted by Jill Compton Twist. Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Mr. Martin seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments Catapult Amendement.pdf (199 KB) Catapult.24-25 quote pdf.pdf (326 KB) Subject B. Consider approval of Lake Placid High School's Out of State Field Trip, Sunbelt Ag Expo, Moultrie, Georgia October 14-October 16, 2025 Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 6. CONSENT AGENDA - CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION Type Action Consent Recommended Action Motion to approve as submitted by Danielle Erwin Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Mr. Martin seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments OOS FT LPHS AG Science EXPO.pdf (599 KB) Our adopted rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Roberts Rules, provide for a consent agenda listing several items for approval of the Board by a single motion. Documentation concerning these items has been provided to all board members and the public in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. Items may be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any board member. Subject C. Consider approval of amendment to contract between ProjectSearch AdventHealth Sebring and the School Board of Highlands County Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 6. CONSENT AGENDA - CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION Type Action Consent Recommended Action Motion to approve as submitted by Director of Exceptional Student Education Dr. Rubie Kauffman Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Mr. Martin seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments Advent Health Sebring Project Search Second Amendment- 9.17.25.pdf (98 KB) Original signed Agreement Project search.pdf (3,238 KB) Our adopted rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Roberts Rules, provide for a consent agenda listing several items for approval of the Board by a single motion. Documentation concerning these items has been provided to all board members and the public in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. Items may be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any board member. 7. CONSENT AGENDA - BUSINESS OPERATIONS Subject A. Consider Approval to declare the Tangible Personal Property items shown as surplus and to remove these items from the TTP database. Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 7. CONSENT AGENDA - BUSINESS OPERATIONS Type Action Consent Recommended Action Motion to approve as submitted by Stephanie Hanks. Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Mr. Martin seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments Tangible Personal Property (1).pdf (378 KB) Our adopted rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Roberts Rules, provide for a consent agenda listing several items for approval of the Board by a single motion. Documentation concerning these items has been provided to all board members and the public in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. Items may be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any board member. Subject B. Consider approval of adoption of Resolution 2025-13 for the Local Mitigation Strategy Plan 5-year update for Highlands County Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 7. CONSENT AGENDA - BUSINESS OPERATIONS Type Action Consent Recommended Action Motion to approve as submitted by Willie Hills Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Mr. Martin seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments Local Mitigation Strategy 2025 Resolution 9 17 2025.pdf (17 KB) Our adopted rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Roberts Rules, provide for a consent agenda listing several items for approval of the Board by a single motion. Documentation concerning these items has been provided to all board members and the public in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. Items may be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any board member. Subject C. Consider approval of budget amendments month ending June 30, 2025 and July 31, 2025. Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 7. CONSENT AGENDA - BUSINESS OPERATIONS Type Action Consent Recommended Action Motion to approve item as presented. Submitted by Anjelica Tinajero. Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Mr. Martin seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments June Revisions and Transfers.pdf (1,268 KB) July Revisions and Transfers.pdf (1,139 KB) Our adopted rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Roberts Rules, provide for a consent agenda listing several items for approval of the Board by a single motion. Documentation concerning these items has been provided to all board members and the public in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. Items may be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any board member. 8. ACTION - APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 9. ACTION - ADMINISTRATION Subject A. Consider approval of the Superintendent's recommendation for personnel. Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 9. ACTION - ADMINISTRATION Type Action Recommended Action Motion to approve as submitted by Dr. Carla Ball Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Dr. Durrance seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments 100725.pdf (162 KB) Subject B. Safe-Schools Quarterly Compliance Report 2024-2025 Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 9. ACTION - ADMINISTRATION Type Presentation File Attachments Subject C. Consider approval of the 2026-2027 School Calendar Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 9. ACTION - ADMINISTRATION Type Action Recommended Action Motion to approve as submitted by Andrew G. Lethbridge Mr. Martin moved to approve. Mr. Whidden seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments 2026-2027 Calendar.pdf (177 KB) Subject D. Recommendation to 1) terminate legal services contract with Swaine, Harris & Wohl effective October 31, 2025 and approve School Board Attorney Contract Termination agreement as presented, 2) enter into School Board attorney contract with Nash Legal, P.A. as presented, and 3) authorize transfer of file and trust account balance (if any) from Swaine, Harris & Wohl, P.A. to Nash Legal, P.A. Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 9. ACTION - ADMINISTRATION Type Mrs. Howerton moved to approve. Dr. Durrance seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments Contract Termination.pdf (597 KB) SBHC - JointLettertoClients.pdf (292 KB) Attorney Contract Transition Period 2025.pdf (136 KB) 10. ACTION - LEGAL 11. ACTION - POLICIES 12. ACTION - CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION 13. ACTION - BUSINESS OPERATIONS Subject A. Consider Approval of monthly Financials month ending June 30, 2025 and July 31, 2025. Meeting Oct 7, 2025 - Board Meeting Category 13. ACTION - BUSINESS OPERATIONS Type Action Consent Recommended Action Motion to approve as submitted by Stephanie Hanks. Mr. Whidden moved to approve. Mrs. Howerton seconded. On roll call, all members present voted 'yes'. Motion carried. File Attachments JUNE FINANCIALS.pdf (116 KB) JULY FINANCIALS.pdf (114 KB) Our adopted rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Roberts Rules, provide for a consent agenda listing several items for approval of the Board by a single motion. Documentation concerning these items has been provided to all board members and the public in advance to assure an extensive and thorough review. Items may be removed from the consent agenda at the request of any board member. 14. EMERGENCY ITEMS 15. HCEA/HCESPA MEMBERS' COMMENTS 16. SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY COMMENTS 17. BOARD MEMBER'S COMMENTS 18. ADJOURNMENT 19. NOTICE: If a person intends to appeal the Board’s decision with respect to any matter, or has any thought that an appeal may be taken, the person has the responsibility to ensure that a verbatim (word for word) record of the proceeding is made and that the record includes all testimony and evidence upon which an appeal is to be based. NOTICE: If you are a person with a disability who requires reasonable accommodations in order to attend a School Board meeting, please contact the ADA Coordinator, Carla J. Ball, Director of Human Resources at 863-471-5732 or 426 School St., Sebring, Florida 33870 at least 48 hours in advance of the event.