The Highlands County School Board held an organizational meeting in November 2025 to elect officers, confirm committee liaisons and set its calendar for the 2025–26 year.

Superintendent Brenda Longshore opened the meeting and cited Florida Statutes §1001.371 as the legal authority for organizing the board, saying, “This meeting is called pursuant to section 1001.371, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of organizing the school board by election of a chair and vice chair.” The board conducted roll call and acknowledged outgoing chair Nicole Radonski for her leadership.

Board members nominated Dr. Isaac Durrance for chair and Mason Witten for vice chair. After nominations were closed, both were approved by the board — the chair by voice vote and the vice chair by voice vote — and the gavel was turned to the newly elected chair.

The board then considered routine organizational business. It approved the 2025–26 meeting calendar after providing copies on request and conducting a roll-call vote in which each member voted in favor. The board also approved the presented board-members’ information and a slate of liaison and committee assignments, including representation for DSAC, zoning, arts, the value adjustment board, the athletic task force, the Central Florida School Board Coalition, and the Tenth Judicial Circuit Child Death Review Panel. Several members confirmed they would continue in previously held roles.

On the question of out-of-district travel, the board approved anticipated travel for board members to attend the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) conference during the 2025–26 year (meetings referenced in December and June). Miss Donna Howerton moved approval and Reese Martin seconded; the motion passed on a roll-call vote.

Following the school-board reorganization, the board convened a special meeting of the Highlands County Leasing Corporation to elect corporation officers. The board nominated Dr. Durrance for president, Mason Witten for vice president, and Dr. Brenda Longshore for treasurer and secretary; members approved those nominations and then adjourned the special meeting. The chair reminded members of a policy workshop at 3:00 p.m. and a regular board meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Votes at a glance:
- Election of chair (Dr. Isaac Durrance): approved by voice vote.
- Election of vice chair (Mason Witten): approved by voice vote.
- Approval of 2025–26 meeting calendar: approved by roll-call vote (all present voted yes).
- Approval of board-members’ information: approved by roll-call vote.
- Approval of liaison and committee assignments: approved by roll-call vote.
- Approval of anticipated out-of-district travel to FSBA: approved by roll-call vote.
- Leasing Corporation officer elections (Dr. Durrance, Mason Witten, Dr. Brenda Longshore): approved.

The meeting concluded with routine adjournment after electing the Leasing Corporation officers. No policy changes, motions to study a new program, or contested votes were recorded in the available transcript.