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In Brief . . .
Highland County School Board
The senior trip to Virginia Beach is set for May 26-29. Board member Jim Blagg said the late submission of the request put the board in an awkward position of not having time to review the proposal. Board member John Moyers Jr. expressed concern about students leaving Memorial Day due to the increased risk of accidents with more traffic on the roads. Chairman Kirk Billingsley said the trip had an educational focus, which he thought important. Other members agreed, but the board approved the trip on a 2-1 vote, with Moyers voting against. Valedictorian for the class of 2008 is Lee Gibson, daughter of Ann Gibson; salutatorian is Sean Duff, son of Terry and Tim Duff. The Martin's School Rewards program ended with Highland Elementary School earning $175.56 from 95 shoppers. Kroger's Plus card data is still coming in, but at the end of February the school had earned 85,100 points. "That's all free dollars for shopping," said HES principal Teresa Blum. The Destination Imagination team (a combination of grades 3-5) finished fourth at state competition April 5, missing an opportunity to go to global competition by only 10 points. "So close," said Blum. She was very happy with the children's achievement, she said. Earth day planting at Highland Elementary School is set for 8:30-11 a.m. Monday, April 21. Betty Mitchell and Fran Davenport informed the board about the Highland Occupational and Mentoring Experience. The mission of HOME is "to provide students with a variety of educational and mentoring experiences that will give ideas and support for pursuing careers, starting their own business, and developing skills to be financially and professionally successful." They do that by bringing together students with entrepreneurs, skilled trades people, professionals and agribusiness operators. The board passed a policy Monday that applies only to the classes of 2009 and 2010, and deals only with the deadline the classes must meet in order to get a three-school-day senior trip. According to the new policy, the school board must approve senior trips by the end of the class's junior year. If they do not obtain permission by the end of the junior year, then the senior trip will be limited to a senior-class field trip. Field trips have typically been of a day's duration, or at most one over-night, and educational in nature. "This does not address the bigger senior trip issue," said Blagg. "We (the senior trip committee) had thought that early approval was important. This year's junior class might need an extension (on the deadline)." Blagg added, "The revised policy for senior trips is currently in the pipeline. There has been no action taken on (the current ninth grade's) concerns." The "bigger issue" concerns length and scope of senior trip. Under policy enacted last year, the class of 2011 will be the first class limited to an overnight senior trip, further limited to the distance that can be traveled by bus in the time allotted. The trip must specifically have an educational component. The committee recently reviewed the existing senior trip policy, but has yet to make a formal recommendation to the board. The board approved an application from the Weekday Religious Education council for a once a week, 30-minute, early release for grades 1-5 to attend Bible class for the 2008-09 school year. Those not attending receive enrichment or remediation, depending on their needs. The board approved the hiring of Patti Reum as a substitute. The board approved minor revisions to 22 school board policies. The board tabled discussion on four other policies to give members and the superintendent time to review and discuss the options - tobacco-free school, professional staff assignments and transfers, board-staff communication, and petty cash funds. The board approved a credit card policy. The policy spells out responsibilities and accountability of credit cards and their uses. School credit cards are under the jurisdiction of the superintendent and clerk of the school board. Gasoline credit cards are to be signed out and receipts returned to the clerk or superintendent at the end of the activity or the next business day. Bank credit cards are only to be used for approved school-related activities, with the clerk maintaining records. Custodian Harry Ralston submitted a letter of retirement. Executive director Mary Stephenson submitted a draft copy of the Highland County Special Education Annual Plan and Report for 2008-09 for board to review prior to approval at the May meeting. The plan includes applications for the IDEA Part B Section 611 funds (flow-through funds) and IDEA Part B Section 619 Funds (preschool funds). The applications must be sent to the Department of Education by May 16. The board gave the extension service's 4-H Youth Development program permission to use a school bus for its Highland/Bath teen counselor training for Junior 4-H camp April 12. The extension service compensates the driver and pays for fuel. The next board meeting is at 7 p.m. Monday, May 5 at the Highland High School library.
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