Highlands County School Board approves broad policy revisions, awards Sebring High gutter contract

The Highlands County School Board on Feb. 11 approved a broad set of policy revisions, routine personnel and student‑discipline items, a five‑year facilities plan and a vendor contract to replace gutters at Sebring High School.

Votes at a glance

- Agenda adoption: Approved. Motion by Miss Howerton; second by Dr. Durance. Roll call recorded: Miss Howerton, Dr. Durrance, Mr. Martin, Mr. Whitten and Chair voted yes.

- Consent agenda: Approved (includes routine procurement and administrative items). Motion by (filed) Miss Howerton; second by Mr. Whitten. Recorded vote: unanimous yes on the roll call recorded at 41:11 (Howerton, Martin, Durrance, Whitten, Chair).

- Personnel recommendations: Approved. Motion by Dr. Durrance; second by Mr. Martin. Vote recorded as yes by board members present.

- Expulsions: Approved. Motion by Miss Howerton; second by Mr. Whitten. Vote recorded as yes.

- Office of Safe Schools compliance report: Presented (no action required). The district reported one data‑tracking deficiency that was corrected and praised fencing, locks and the panic alert system.

- Master Board participation (Florida School Boards Association Master Board program): Approved (board approved participation and tentative dates). Motion by Dr. Durance; second by Mr. Whitten. Vote recorded as yes.

- Multiple policy adoptions and revisions: The board approved a package of policy updates that had been workshopped and advertised for adoption. Key policy changes adopted (motion/second and roll call recorded for each): - School Board Policy 1129.01 (Tutoring) — approved (motion by Ms. Howerton; second by Dr. Durrance). Public comments were taken; changes add references to state reading statutes for compliance. - School Board Policy 124 (Standards of ethical conduct for board members) — approved. - School Board Policy 1210 / 124 / 3210 series (multiple standards of ethical conduct, professional learning, anti‑harassment and related consolidations) — approved (see full list below). - Safety, emergency and reporting policies (policy numbers in the 8400s, including emergency/crisis management, safe school officers and suspicious‑activity reporting) — approved. - Multiple staff/ personnel complaint and file policies (various numbers) — approved. (The policies were considered as discrete motions on the agenda but formed a large, contiguous package of compliance updates; the board recorded individual roll calls for each adoption and all were approved.)

- Facilities and contracts - Award contract for gutter replacement at Sebring High School to FEC Roofing Incorporated (SBHC 2425‑05): Approved. Motion to approve by Mr. Martin; second by Mr. Whitten. Roll call recorded as yes. - Five‑year work plan for 2024–25: Approved. Motion by Miss Howerton; second by Dr. Durrance. Vote recorded as yes. The plan includes vocational program planning discussed by board members.

What this means: Board members said the policy revisions were largely intended to align district policy with state law and Department of Education rules (including updates tied to the Reading Achievement initiative). The safety report found one administrative data‑tracking deficiency that the district corrected and otherwise praised site security measures.

Next steps: The district will begin implementing the adopted policy changes and proceed with the awarded contractor for Sebring High’s gutter replacement. Several public commenters asked for follow‑up briefings and clearer public guidance on complaints and special‑education processes; the board said staff would follow up.