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Superintendent proposes year-and-a-half study of Lake Placid junior–senior high model after community objections
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Longshore said no final decision has been made on merging Lake Placid Middle and Lake Placid High into a 6–12 (junior–senior) model and proposed a year-and-a-half review including workshops and school visits; parents and community members urged more transparency, data and town halls.
Superintendent Dr. Longshore told the Highlands County School Board that there is no final decision yet to merge Lake Placid Middle School and Lake Placid High School into a junior–senior high (6–12) model and proposed taking a year and a half to study the idea, visit example schools and hold workshops and community meetings.
The proposal, first raised by district and community leaders, drew multiple public speakers at the meeting who said the announcement felt sudden and demanded more transparency and stakeholder input. Parent Katie Wilson told the board she and other parents were “increasingly frustrated with the direction of leadership” and called the unannounced shift “reckless,” saying Lake Placid Middle has had high principal turnover and that the change risks student stability. Pam Fentress and other Lake Placid community members asked for workshops, town halls and data supporting the merger before the board moves forward.
Dr. Longshore said he had researched other districts and contacted principals and superintendents in Florida with junior–senior high models; he cited Frostproof as an example and said he had reached out to the Florida High School Athletics board for guidance on athletics and scheduling. He proposed community workshops, including a possible evening session at 5:30 p.m., school visits to Frostproof, and scheduled outreach led by the district’s assigned administrator, Kevin Tuning, who would temporarily serve both the middle and high school during the study period.
Administrators and educators addressed benefits and operational details. Chris, an assistant principal who worked in a 6–12 at Frostproof, emphasized relationship-building across grades 6–12 and suggested athletic and scheduling models that allow younger students to access varsity-level coaches and earlier program exposure. Laura Halloran, principal of Lake Country Elementary and a former 6–12 student, described strategic scheduling and campus design that kept most younger/older student interactions limited while providing expanded academic and athletic opportunities. Shane Ward, a middle-school principal, discussed how combining middle and high school can create “middle-school acceleration” opportunities and certification pathways that increase school-grade points under Florida’s accountability metrics.
Board members acknowledged community concerns and pledged more outreach. Several board members and Dr. Longshore said they supported pausing for a thorough review. Board member Mr. Martin said he would have voted against an immediate decision and emphasized that a workshop and stakeholder input should have preceded public announcements. Chair and other board members urged a rapid workshop so the board could ask specific questions and guide the superintendent’s information gathering.
No formal action to merge the schools was taken at the meeting. Dr. Longshore said he would return with more detailed information after the study period and that board approval would be required for any personnel changes or final decisions.
