[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6461033,"mediaKeyId","5825958-647027aadc33b5125fce39b44c11832f","parentId",5825958,"title","Highlands County School Board recognizes staff milestones up to 45 years","audioSeconds",168,"startMs",1409000,"endMs",1577000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825958-647027aadc33b5125fce39b44c11832f&start=1409&end=1577","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825958-647027aadc33b5125fce39b44c11832f/thumbnail_1409000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6461033/Florida/Highlands-County-School-Board-recognizes-staff-milestones-up-to-45-years","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461033-45c29cbda4a9c97264c6e6b06aae5b6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165715&Signature=lx3VjaveQ5n6WW-z5UHHIHAuIShvx5ngexWlnDJ4kp8hXQ~LhmOKRXQlnMYc26r0z~UqBgvKgktx4-TFhpBzhyADCvPEDyW1Igg8xH0s8ZFdMiDgef1a6iYVbE1xny10AFBwXQ6y7pomxpXpb-iJV-ZPtpM4IxcYuQh1yjFMO9QHJvE~ofx3v42Yx040DI6w6Gy1NxavujcBLLDCLCyWLtxUpnxxZpFaC6Uk9NUsZsCx368-9rKn9Y7pOB-3gs5E7L7yWXy~c3keTTb5ddvAtV7kykgxpaPHykMU-0uyRqbZKrq6QthalmMChafDn4hitxO9HHmpE9dZiSdHRJ8f2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Highlands County School Board, FL","date","2025-09-24T17:11:42.533Z","article","The School Board of Highlands County recognized multiple employees for long service at Monday’s meeting, honoring staff members whose years of service ranged from 30 to 45 years.

Carla Ball, director of human resources, introduced the recognitions and invited school administrators to speak for each honoree. The board and administrators recognized Sherry Whitten for 40 years of service and noted her long record as a teacher and athletic director. Tim Thompson, director of food nutrition, introduced Barbara Haywood, who was honored for 35 years of service and currently serves in the district food-nutrition office.

Other employees recognized included individuals listed in the meeting as reaching 30 years of service (names cited in the meeting record include Corliss Chapel [food nutrition], Darlene Bridal [Woodlawn Elementary] and Ruth Vanderkay [Sebring High School]) and one teacher with 45 years who was acknowledged in absentia. Sebring High School Principal Laura Shirley and Avon Park Middle assistant principal Eric Gooch offered remarks describing honorees’ contributions to students and school programs.

Administrators described honorees as consistent contributors who assist students, support colleagues and play roles beyond classroom instruction, including leadership on curriculum teams, athletics and district-level food and nutrition programs. The board gave each honoree public recognition and invited family members to join for photographs.

Why it matters: The recognitions highlight institutional memory and continuity in Highlands County schools and were presented as ceremonial acknowledgments of longtime service rather than as decisions requiring board action.

No formal board action was taken related to the recognitions during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","9/23/2025 Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The School Board honored district employees who reached service milestones, including a 40-year teacher and staff members with 30–45 years of service; administrators and invited speakers praised longtime dedication.","taxTitle","HIGHLANDS, School Districts, Florida","taxId",15384,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6461038,"Woodlawn, Sebring students mark Constitution Day with civics activities",216,588000,804000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825958-647027aadc33b5125fce39b44c11832f&start=588&end=804","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825958-647027aadc33b5125fce39b44c11832f/thumbnail_588000.jpg","/articles/6461038/Florida/Woodlawn-Sebring-students-mark-Constitution-Day-with-civics-activities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461038-5816005a180f4e4e6d3e855a9c5e4879/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165715&Signature=X3418MEkHo17YF3jCTWEglC3Io8-EraxtU2pQz94YxK2vIvKGP1MtKtt2GXWnqGV4c6lGo56JvY6ud21Bt3xnF~f7e7LZQLhgHUcazlxgGqEMHWE9ibqm9Z-hI5~mSS8FWMi7ySVZk4Giti4NTGo-wDsQTJCAfjUkHG7fzXCTbCTPbIP7hdIioZXzuhwi7jDokzXPNjZiHf77TGA-uqrOtbni4z43eMECdzk9RQIlH0eUpJhsMD~4~Tjpd9jbYppwAJKefR8xkhf9-Bugj1GPZSEh1Br8tPOc4WatlUo35USbW5XMzMSCoWJbYrktaFTVA~7GIMLtfJj6uVSd64n~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Woodlawn Elementary Principal Jerry Wright and students from Woodlawn’s leadership ambassador program told the School Board of Highlands County on Monday that the school has added a civics action team and is marking Constitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week with campus activities.

The students described a week of classroom exercises designed to teach younger pupils about the Constitution and American civic institutions. \"We brought with you a few of our leadership ambassadors,\" Principal Jerry Wright said, introducing the third- through fifth-grade students who said they represent roughly 150 classmates and are organized into action teams.

Tripp Pyle, president of Woodlawn’s Leadership Ambassador Team, and Ava Bosser, civics team leader, described planned activities that include daily short lessons on founding figures during the school’s morning broadcast, a schoolwide “round robin” where students share reasons they are proud to be American, a constitution scavenger hunt across campus and a student-designed Woodlawn Freedom Quilt assembled from individual quilt squares representing what freedom means to each child. The students said the scavenger hunt will highlight a selection of the Constitution’s amendments, and they named the First, Fourth and Thirteenth Amendments as examples; students said the scavenger hunt will incorporate a subset of the Constitution’s 27 amendments.

Sebring High School teacher Mr. Vieto introduced senior Luke Armstrong, who described his honors American government class work on the election process, reapportionment and gerrymandering. \"Most recently our classes have been about the election process and how the elections happen,\" Armstrong said, and he summarized his interest in how state districting can affect representation.

Board members praised the classroom work and the civic focus. Board member Mr. Whitton said the week’s lessons help students understand \"what makes our country so incredibly amazing,\" and several members noted that some schools were reciting portions of the Declaration of Independence as part of Celebrate Freedom Week.

Why it matters: Board members said early civic education and opportunities to practice respectful debate help students learn democratic processes, and they commended staff and volunteers for creating classroom structures that teach civics at the elementary and high school levels.

The board received the presentations and posed no formal action items related to the student programs during the meeting.","Students from Woodlawn Elementary and Sebring High School presented to the Highlands County School Board about classroom activities for Constitution Day and Celebrate Freedom Week, including a civics action team, a freedom quilt project and lessons on amendments and elections.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6461028,"Highlands County School Board approves agenda, contract and salary-schedule revisions",245,2492000,2737000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825958-647027aadc33b5125fce39b44c11832f&start=2492&end=2737","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825958-647027aadc33b5125fce39b44c11832f/thumbnail_2492000.jpg","/articles/6461028/Florida/Highlands-County-School-Board-approves-agenda-contract-and-salary-schedule-revisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461028-f39d94a7a5f794710f928634a961719f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165715&Signature=mlYH4ky227uP1ZSSWPrO6sBPSZis04UffA8UfPxeqPCHiIXLYjuU9UJULtEQTCqHbWxBIniTG5Z1hePGSuqSGNFP2e1QFzB5-~wulSGz~jlypc5Q95vVamB4zlxVRboTMQUgUCng-uGH5-~DJgm8Bj1zaXgVFWobZtb8ixRoieZXBs0onWGNgPYZY9p-LLGLRSgWJOCjcj7AV0f3oAI3FOYu~mUiqHyz0H2MazKo0Az4dCYK873tt7BBxkEDtM6yGezuIUeVsFNtc725drXBvlEluZqvo17VRk0AyEKL20NxldjsrFdPANKFornpFHzij0cKiF7Kh9JF5UPvopYGjw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School Board of Highlands County conducted several routine and substantive business items during the meeting and recorded motions and roll-call votes approving the revised agenda, a multi-year contract with the Highlands County Education Association, a staffing qualification waiver for transportation, and an updated salary schedule for the 2025–26 school year.

Superintendent Dr. Longshore asked the board to approve a revision to page 45 of the district salary schedule to correct wording and said the revised page copies would be uploaded to the district website. He also requested permission to schedule an executive session to discuss collective bargaining immediately following the Oct. 7 board meeting.

Board action highlights (motions, seconds, outcomes):
- Adopt agenda as revised: Motion by Mrs. Howerton; second by Dr. Durrance. Roll call recorded votes of \"Yes\" from Halligan, Dr. Jones, Mr. Williams and the Chair; the motion carried.
- Approve consent agenda: Motion by Dr. Durrance; second by Mr. Winnins. Motion carried (no public opposition recorded during the meeting.)
- Approve 2025–2028 contract between the School Board of Highlands County and the Highlands County Education Association (HCEA) (Item 9b): Motion by Mr. Whiddon; second by Mrs. Howerton. Board discussion acknowledged the difficulty of negotiations; no public opposition was recorded and the motion carried.
- Waive minimum qualification (two years’ experience) for the position of Mechanic 4 in transportation for the 2025–26 school year (Item 9c): Motion by Dr. Durrance; second by Mr. Whitten. Several board members voted \"Yes\" as recorded; the motion passed.
- Approve updated and revised salary schedule for 2025–26 (Item 13a): Motion by Mr. Whitton; second by Dr. Durrance. Board members voted in favor by roll call and the motion passed.

Board members who moved or seconded items and the recorded yes-votes are listed in the meeting transcript; no \"no\" or abstain votes were recorded on these items in the public portion of the meeting. When motions passed, the chair announced the approval and the board moved to subsequent business.

Why it matters: The HCEA contract and salary-schedule approval affect district labor terms and employee pay for the upcoming school year; the executive-session request signals continuing collective-bargaining discussions.

The superintendent's request to schedule an executive session on Oct. 7 for collective bargaining was placed on the record; no executive session occurred during this meeting.","The School Board adopted a revised agenda, approved the Highlands County Education Association contract for 2025–2028, waived a minimum qualification for a transportation mechanic, and approved an updated 2025–26 salary schedule; the superintendent also requested an executive session to discuss collective bargaining.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Highlands County School Board recognizes staff milestones up to 45 years

Woodlawn, Sebring students mark Constitution Day with civics activities

Highlands County School Board approves agenda, contract and salary-schedule revisions