Board approves personnel recommendations and revised salary schedule amid debate over staffing and insurance

The Highlands County School Board approved the superintendent’s personnel recommendations and an updated salary schedule for the 2025–26 year during its Aug. 18 meeting, while several members raised concerns about insurance costs and staffing efficiencies.

A board member asked whether a paraeducator could cover the additional eighth‑hour duties at Highlands Career Institute rather than hiring a higher‑paid lead position; staff explained the school day and pickup/dropoff times (drop off at 7:15 a.m.; pickup roughly 3:15–3:20 p.m.) and said the added time was intended to ensure site coverage. Commenting on statutory changes, staff and members referenced Senate Bill 1470 as having restored some language about gate coverage but said 30‑minute before/after coverage requirement has been long practiced.

When the personnel motion came to a vote, the chair announced they would abstain because a family member (named on the roster) was affected and said a Form B had been filed; the motion nevertheless carried. Later, business operations staff presented a revised salary schedule described as largely verbiage cleanup with one prior monetary change for single health coverage already approved. Board members debated the insurance change and expressed a desire for further departmental presentations and data on Chromebook usage and other operational metrics.

The board also asked staff to bring a public finance attorney to a workshop on Aug. 19 for an overview of public finance issues such as certificate participations and budget ramifications.