SEBRING — Creating a smaller budget, due to reduced state funding, should not be done by eliminating teaching positions, School Board of Highlands County members said Tuesday. To provide time for more discussion, the board discussed tabling the reappointment roster – the listing of teachers and administrators who will have jobs with the district in 2008-09. But with the contract year ending June 30 and the next scheduled school board meeting on July 8, that would have left a gap where employees would not have a job. ...more

June 25, 2008

SEBRING — A new school, a new district office position and an administrator moving back to the classroom will add up to 10 of the 11 changes in administrative positions such as principals and assistant principals. One transfer creates a domino effect. For example: Ruby Handley moving from principal of Fred Elementary to principal of the new Memorial Elementary, Laura Waldon, formerly assistant principal of Woodlawn Elementary, replacing Handley and then exceptional student education staffing specialist Melissa Blackman replacing Waldon at Woodlawn Elementary. ...more

June 25, 2008

SEBRING — With the Career Academy opening in August at South Florida Community College, the School Board of Highlands County is working to fill its position of coordinator of career and technical education. After serving as the district's career/tech coordinator for about two years, John Rousch has decided to return to his former position in the classroom at Lake Placid High as a drafting/construction technology teacher. The possibility of freezing or not filling the position was discussed, but with the school board's focus on getting the Career Academy started this year it was decided that the position needs to be filled, district Human Resources Director Vivianne Waldron said. The closing date for applications is Monday, June 16. ...more

June 14, 2008

SEBRING — With the whole school assembled at the bus loop at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, something special had to be in store for the Woodlawn Elementary students and teachers. Cheers and applause erupted when they spotted a horse-drawn carriage with three special passengers – retiring teachers Carol Todd and Freda Hoffman and Assistant Principal Laura Waldon, who is departing to be principal of Fred Wild Elementary School. "Isn't this exciting," Woodlawn Elementary Principal Kaye Bowers said as the retirees and Waldon prepared for the carriage ride around the school. ...more

June 4, 2008

The School Board of Highlands County recently gave the "go ahead" to begin a secondary education Career Academy. The academy will be for 11th- and 12th-grade students. It will be located on the South Florida Community College campus. Students will spend a half day studying their academic subjects. The remainder of the day they will learn a technical/vocational skill. ...more

June 4, 2008

SEBRING — The School Board of Highlands County decided Tuesday to go ahead with the Career Academy, a technical trade/academic program for students, that will work out of South Florida Community College. Superintendent Wally Cox and other school officials had recommended delaying the program until the 2009-10 school year due to budget concerns and a low number of applicants. In the end, the school board decided that waiting another year was pointless. "The program won't be stronger by delaying it a year," said school board member Wally Randall. "It won't be easier to start next year. With momentum, it will be a success." ...more

May 20, 2008

SEBRING — The usual summer spruce-up and fix-up projects at district schools may be delayed this year as the School Board of Highlands County looks at ways to cut costs. The requested 2008-09 project list totals more than $2.8 million, which includes a variety of improvements such as new flooring, doors and playground equipment, parking lot expansions, building covered walkways, etc. ...more

May 19, 2008

SEBRING — The school district's state funding will be cut about $3.3 million for the 2008-09 fiscal year, prompting the district to consider cutting teaching and support positions. The two-year teacher contract needs to be funded, and health insurance and electricity and fuel costs are increasing, Mike Averyt, assistant superintendent of business/operations, said Monday. So the budget needs to be cut by about $7 million, he said. ...more

May 12, 2008

LAKE PLACID — After two years as assistant principal of Lake Placid High School, Michael Haley is set to become principal of the home of the Green Dragons. ...more

May 7, 2008

SEBRING — Highlands County School Board members said Monday they want to move forward with the Career Academy in some form, even if the first year has a low enrollment. Through the joint venture with South Florida Community College, the Career Academy would allow students to earn a high school diploma and a certificate or associate's degree in a technical discipline such as computer networking, automotive service technology, medical secretary, cosmetology, computer engineering, culinary arts or electronics. ...more

May 5, 2008