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School board approves new science and civics textbooks, facility contracts and personnel items
Summary
At a Highlands County School Board meeting, members approved a package of instructional-material purchases for K-12 science and civics, several facility contracts and routine personnel actions after motion and second; the board also scheduled a budget workshop and an executive session.
The Highlands County School Board approved a slate of curriculum purchases, facility contracts and personnel items during its meeting.
The board approved purchases of state-adopted instructional materials for multiple grade levels and subjects, awarded several contracts for school facility work and approved routine personnel actions after motions and seconding from board members. The superintendent also asked the board to schedule a budget workshop and an executive session.
Why it matters: The approved textbook adoptions will guide classroom instruction across the district; facility contracts will fund immediate building repairs and safety upgrades, and personnel approvals will affect staffing at schools across the county.
The board voted on a series of instructional-material purchases for middle and high school science, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, earth and space science, environmental science, physical science, civics and K–5 science. Vendors and course titles approved in separate motions included Savvas Learning Company, LLC (high school biology, Miller and Levine Experience Biology 2025), McGraw Hill, LLC (high school anatomy & physiology; Earth and Space Science; physical science; K–5 science), Savvas/Sobus (middle school comprehensive science courses), and Solvus Learning Company, LLC (high school chemistry; environmental science). Each purchase was presented and approved after motions from board members and a second; the board recorded votes following each motion.
The board also awarded multiple facility contracts under separate motions, including: Central Florida Glass and Mirror for Building 3 window replacement at Avon Elementary (SBHC 2425-27); Residential R & R Inc. for restroom upgrades at Woodlawn Elementary (SBHC 2425-28) and Lake Placid Elementary (SBHC 2425-29); Diversified Electrical Systems, LLC for intercom upgrades at Lake Country Elementary and Sun and Lake Elementary (SBHC 2425-30); and an approved roof-replacement procurement for Avon Park High School Building 2 via an existing cooperative purchasing agreement (Omnia Partners / US Communities). Motions to approve each contract received a motion, a second and a board vote.
Board business also included motions to adopt the meeting agenda as revised and to approve the revised consent agenda. The board considered and approved the superintendent's personnel recommendations and a motion to consider expulsions; both items were moved, seconded and recorded. Several motions were presented as standard approvals with board members moving and seconding and the board voting to adopt the items.
Superintendent Dr. Longshore requested permission during announcements to amend item 9a (revising page 5), to pull item 7a from the night’s agenda to be brought forward at a later meeting, to schedule a budget workshop on May 13 at 3:00 p.m., and to hold an executive session immediately following the May 6 board meeting. The board subsequently proceeded with votes on the revised agenda and consent items.
The Office of State Schools’ quarterly compliance report was presented as a report (no action required) and is summarized in a separate report in this package.
Ending: Board members closed with routine board comments, including thanks to volunteers and staff. The approved purchases and contracts will be implemented through district purchasing and facilities processes and appear on the board’s minutes and procurement records.
