Votes at a glance: Houston County Board approves personnel hires, contracts, materials and financial reports

The Houston County Board of Education approved a series of routine and substantive items at its Feb. 11 meeting, voting unanimously on most measures. The board’s recorded outcomes below are drawn from motions made, seconded and announced in the public meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt agenda: Motion to “adopt the agenda as published” approved 6-0.

- Approve minutes: Motion to approve minutes from previous meetings approved 6-0.

- Approve December 2024 financial reports: Motion approved 6-0.

- Purchasing report (February 2025 purchases): Motion to approve purchasing report (total financial impact reported as $3,348,000) — motion made and approved (vote not separately detailed, recorded as approved).

- Personnel report: Motion to approve personnel report including 2,341 contract recommendations for the 2025–26 school year — motion approved 6-0.

- Additional contract recommendations (Courtney Flores, Marquez Ivory, Anna Murphy): Motion approved (result recorded as 4-0 after two recusals were noted).

- Individual personnel approvals and hires (each approved by voice vote, recorded as approved): - Casey Hopkins as principal, Matt Arthur Elementary School — motion approved 6-0. - Dr. Arthur Billings as principal, Perry High School — motion approved 6-0. - Dr. Jessica Watson as assistant principal of instruction, Tucker Elementary School — motion approved 6-0. - Heather Schmanski as assistant principal for instruction, Bonaire Middle School — motion approved 6-0. - Andre Davis as assistant principal for discipline, Bonaire Middle School — motion approved 6-0.

- Termination for cause: Motion to accept superintendent’s recommendation to terminate Heather Hurst for job abandonment (school nutrition program food assistant) — motion approved 6-0.

- New certified contingency positions for 2025–26 (20 positions): Motion to approve new certified contingency positions (special education, English language, regular education, EIP/REAP teachers) — motion approved 6-0.

- Teacher contract revision: Motion to approve teacher contract revision as presented — motion approved 6-0.

- Adoption of instructional materials (Benchmark Advance): Motion to adopt Benchmark Advance as the district’s new ELA materials, with a reported financial impact of $3,000,188 to be paid from the general fund — motion approved 6-0. Board discussion referenced five pilot schools and positive teacher feedback from classroom pilots.

Procedural notes and context

Most motions were approved by voice vote and are recorded in the transcript as “Motion approved” with the voting totals shown where reported. Several personnel motions named the individual recommended; votes were unanimous in the public record. For the additional contract recommendations there were two recusals and the approval was recorded as 4-0. The transcript does not contain a roll-call listing how each named board member voted on every motion; in many cases the clerk announced the motion was approved and reported the tally.

Financial and procurement context

The purchasing report was reported in the meeting as totaling $3,348,000 for the February 2025 purchases. The Benchmark Advance adoption was presented with a district cost of $3,000,188 and a demonstration period at five pilot schools; board members described favorable pilot feedback from teachers and staff.

Next steps

Approved hires, materials adoption and budget items will be processed by the superintendent’s office and relevant human-resources and procurement departments. The board adjourned following the completion of new business and vote tallies.