[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6345821,"mediaKeyId","2248400-ab10b7d13e1a563950980757e9d5a532","parentId",2248400,"title","Harris County schools highlight recruitment efforts and mark sixth consecutive year with no special-education disproportionality findings","audioSeconds",965,"startMs",6996000,"endMs",7961000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248400-ab10b7d13e1a563950980757e9d5a532&start=6996&end=7961","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248400-ab10b7d13e1a563950980757e9d5a532/thumbnail_6996000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6345821/Georgia/Harris-County-schools-highlight-recruitment-efforts-and-mark-sixth-consecutive-year-with-no-special-education-disproportionality-findings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345821-dd5d9850c8ad2f888ded2c92cf697ae2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169654&Signature=MDKELlXWOrkGAATZyunJCGUgUZwqehcjUtWsHLXZCWvspTwAEqd2WFEKIH0LKHzcVx-NPKV~Oqa8zMWuK5b1Cwxt4HcgzOIwNynXFKxUxhL188K1sPrWHNGKGdZ~FMs8t1eA0zBklzqW-9Atg~1ISh3j4nlXfs7VxI8IuXcux5KFm-m9HQG4zlC2tNy7sFpVbqeIAoIJQQGnOGItNzi72o8MbbJ3lccs4vaLkodUGs56ehaxy4-aOwUQPtrfQm6F6t7P4bmkhq0~iMdwLAmwEt4StNo3qjH9qUsXNMueJ9hI1Ni9CS~ECr369TogWViBMQaum0jRHtLmvHMbPMuR6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-07T13:59:59Z","article","District human-resources and support-services leaders updated the Harris County Board of Education Feb. 6 on staffing, recruitment and special-education outcomes.

Miss Carlisle, who presented the human-resources update, said the district posted position pools for the 2025–26 school year and has run targeted recruitment events — described to the board as informal hiring events in collaboration with school nutrition and transportation — that have produced hires and ongoing interviews. Carlisle said the district is emphasizing local recruitment, early engagement with principals on staffing for next year, and a “teacher-cadet” pipeline that has moved paraprofessionals into teacher-education programs; she described a group of paraprofessionals completing teacher-certification programs as a “secret weapon.” Carlisle also told the board that the HR team conducted 90‑day check-ins with 56 new employees last fall and found the orientation, mentoring and early outreach improve retention.

Support-services director Miss Baker reported on special-education monitoring and student supports. Baker told the board the district had, for the sixth consecutive year, no significant findings for significant disproportionality, disproportionate representation or significant discrepancies related to identification, placement or discipline for students with disabilities. She also said the district’s FY25 LEA determination (using 2023–24 data) met 100% of Part B of IDEA requirements.

Baker noted ongoing needs: the district expects to hire approximately four to five special-education teachers across levels because of retirements, resignations and increased caseloads. She described Hope Center “shopping days” (next scheduled on Feb. 12) that provide clothing, food and hygiene items to district families and staff; Baker said the December shopping day served more than 60 students and that families and employees can arrange appointments at the Hope Center.

Board members recognized National School Counseling Week and Baker named the district’s counseling staff roster publicly in appreciation. Carlisle and Baker said staff will bring more-detailed HR and professional-development materials to the board retreat and asked for continued board support for recruitment and retention initiatives.

No formal actions or votes were taken on staffing or special-education items during the Feb. 6 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Harris County BOE - Monthly Committee Meeting 2/6/25","oneSentenceSummary","Human-resources and support-services leaders told the Harris County Board of Education on Feb. 6 that the district has posted job pools and recruited through community hiring events while facing a need to hire several special-education teachers.","taxTitle","Harris County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",38460,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345826,"Board reviews school construction steps, auditorium seating RFP and possible purchase of two lift-equipped special-needs buses",600,7992000,8592000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248400-ab10b7d13e1a563950980757e9d5a532&start=7992&end=8592","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248400-ab10b7d13e1a563950980757e9d5a532/thumbnail_7992000.jpg","/articles/6345826/Georgia/Board-reviews-school-construction-steps-auditorium-seating-RFP-and-possible-purchase-of-two-lift-equipped-special-needs-buses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345826-db97f240390ec52424f48262a8a031a1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169654&Signature=hyTgrELvrI3rc1i4ch2aobblVCcdy0llhOBfmEDC6nRmXJH3GYSPJILQWBndo5FLkC7FH9ak5W5eJssKXIrEpK3PYbzdcrNTjgPgnC4vXe15ba9YUydgf3TowtTpuUj7Tnwqs6h9Woryi1npZCONjKMmnumEETDtNNp4g8Sv9o8XLJ3DI-4q~rfg~QIsRfQ-e-Uh-npmRkSvsDcxVGdrq9EvQY0FMHG8Dmd-mKGttfAYl7tUroM~1aBUE0PID7Ejnk~VAhs~ECEhJ8Fb0BH2lkA9OShLZh2c-F-NSyEpVBvvzJtUaLUALVY6B6v3uJUsUNsV5dRTFXlR0P9~AY0HfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Harris County facilities and transportation staff briefed the board Feb. 6 on several capital projects and vehicle purchases that the board will consider at upcoming meetings.

Mister Fisher, director of facilities and technology, said the district met last week with its architect about the old Mountain Hill School and is preparing cost estimates and more detailed information for the board retreat later this month. Fisher said the district is proceeding with a hazard-risk assessment and an updated site assessment for a planned new elementary school on the county’s north end, and staff will release an RFP for a construction manager and present design plans as they become available.

On the high-school auditorium, Fisher said four companies attended a mandatory pre-bid meeting; the district will receive bids this week and make a recommendation at the next board meeting. The project will replace carpet and seating and reconfigure rows near walls to improve egress; Fisher said the work will reduce seating by about 50 seats but “it will still seat over 800 people,” with a rough target of about 868 seats depending on final configuration. Construction would be scheduled for summer break and the RFP calls for completion by mid-July.

Fisher also told the board he is seeking competitive proposals for district insurance and expects higher premiums, and that Gallagher (the district’s broker) will present estimates at an upcoming meeting.

Transportation staff presented a proposed purchase of two lift-equipped, 2025 International buses intended for students with mobility needs. Fisher said each bus is priced at approximately $145,000; the state reimbursement for each vehicle is about $88,000. One bus would be paid and reimbursed through the district’s bus bond program and the other would use the district’s capital funds (SPLOST) as noted in the agenda memo. The lift-equipped buses accommodate up to three wheelchairs in addition to student seating; Fisher said the vehicles are diesel-powered and are available on short notice from the vendor’s lot, which would avoid the typical 10–14 month build lead time.

Board members asked timing and durability questions; Fisher said the lift-bus purchase and the auditorium recommendation will come to the board for formal action at the next meeting. The transportation presentation noted the district has purchased roughly 60 buses over the past six to seven years and that routine monthly maintenance helps prolong fleet life.","Harris County facilities staff told the Board of Education on Feb. 6 they are advancing design, procurement and a hazard assessment for a planned elementary school, issuing an auditorium seating RFP and proposing the purchase of two lift-equipped special-needs buses that the board will vote on at a future meeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6345831,"Harris County speakers urge relief for seniors as board outlines effects of House Bill 581 on budget",412,5478000,5890000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2248400-ab10b7d13e1a563950980757e9d5a532&start=5478&end=5890","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2248400-ab10b7d13e1a563950980757e9d5a532/thumbnail_5478000.jpg","/articles/6345831/Georgia/Harris-County-speakers-urge-relief-for-seniors-as-board-outlines-effects-of-House-Bill-581-on-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6345831-c5f2c048bc926c4b5509927fc11bf03e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169654&Signature=K45ZEepBR~Mt-r~mWFmMWEc7hQ4zrb7c8MWsQWBPOop~oGf4-MP7xrXCGF9FAiWUPhUkNMetnitOzhBW1ruYag2H-18EwC~oeXkukaxWpb285juXSxEcMvqrTScFjv8~0d0zd40X8Jd96hajqIpp7Y6jnWu0GJM-oUz45SUcztQm1n3HzP0lZp8lniWg1ZLmGAbok96UKDnUO6HaK5rapDRcCEFnq-puHgaGFLSnM5hSsmEuHHxVdRz1qf2-GJlOTxu7pOA2pi6BKScoKB9Hsd28f1LeEaF7GazGxDC3cyJLzC6JnVU51GsbpcAic46p42WeWlZyzriJw8AsYDvxmQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Harris County resident urged the Board of Education on Feb. 6 to create a property-tax reduction for long-term senior homeowners, saying recent increases feel like “a mortgage” even after retirement. Eileen Watson, who said she has lived in Harris County for about 40 years, told the board she feared elderly neighbors would be “taxed out of their homes.”

The board and district staff responded with context about local revenue limits and a recent state law change. Doctor Ben Finney, Harris County schools superintendent, told the board the district will implement the floating homestead exemption created by House Bill 581 and that the Department of Revenue had notified school systems this week that assessed values for tax year 2025 will be capped under the new law. “This board here elected to go with the will of the voters and initiate that floating homestead exemption under House Bill 581,” Doctor Finney said.

The exchange matters because Harris County’s tax base is heavily residential and lacks large commercial taxpayers, board members and staff said. That means property-tax reductions targeted to seniors would shift revenue responsibility to other property owners or require cuts to school services. Finance staff told the board the district received a $19 million tax distribution this month and noted recurring deductions and obligations that reduce available revenue: the district’s statutory 5-mill share to the state (about $6.8 million) and processing fees charged by the county tax office (about $750,000).

District leaders also warned of additional fiscal pressure. Doctor Finney flagged proposed increases in employer contributions to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) and employer health-care contributions as items that could cost Harris County roughly $1 million each in the next budget cycle. He said some of those increases may be included in the district’s QBE funding calculations, but other costs will fall to local budgets and will shape the FY 2026 planning process.

Board members and staff said they had met with the Harris County tax commissioner to review the new state requirements and their timetable. Doctor Finney told the board the HB 581 changes will lead to different rollout language on taxpayer assessments and may require earlier internal decisions about rollback and millage-rate planning. The board’s next quarterly meeting was announced for Feb. 25, 2025, where budgeting and the strategic plan will be discussed further.

Watson’s public comment and the board’s response underscored both the immediate local concern—residents worried about rising bills—and the limits of local policy choices in the wake of state-level reform. The board indicated it will continue to evaluate possible local exemptions and budget options while responding to state deadlines and the evolving FY 2026 funding picture.","A resident urged tax relief for seniors at the Feb. 6 Harris County Board of Education meeting. Board and staff described limits on local authority, said the district will implement the floating homestead exemption created by House Bill 581 for tax year 2025, and flagged budget pressure from rising employer pension and health costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Harris County schools highlight recruitment efforts and mark sixth consecutive year with no special-education disproportionality findings

Board reviews school construction steps, auditorium seating RFP and possible purchase of two lift-equipped special-needs buses

Harris County speakers urge relief for seniors as board outlines effects of House Bill 581 on budget