Huntington County school board approves tree-nursery MOU, donated fire engine, hires and multiple construction contracts

Huntington County Community Schools’ board approved a slate of routine and program actions April 27, including a memorandum of understanding for a high-school tree nursery, acceptance of a donated fire engine for vocational training, multiple personnel appointments, and several contract awards to support building renovations and campus security.

The board approved the MOU with the Huntington North High School Green Team to establish a tree nursery in partnership with the city of Huntington and to use donated materials from Tom Guggenheim. Mr. Park, who presented the proposal, said the nursery’s trees come from the state nursery and “part of the agreement when you purchase from the state is that you can’t resell them.” The motion to approve the MOU carried 6–0.

The board also accepted a donation and associated MOU and release of liability for a 1991 Pierce Dash fire engine purchased and offered by Ryan and Taylor Tobin to support the district’s fire and rescue program. Principal Drummond told the board the engine would be used as a teaching aid and as a marketing tool at community events. The motion to approve the donation and release carried 6–0.

Under the consent agenda the board approved administrative job-description updates and several personnel recommendations. Superintendent Brimberry presented hiring recommendations that included Kenny Hanson as deputy superintendent (previously superintendent at North Miami Schools), Lynn Brown as director of teaching and learning, Russ Klausing as director of technology, and Tanya Lockmeyer as executive secretary. The board approved the consent agenda as presented (motion carries 6–0).

The board approved multiple facilities-related contracts: a single responsive bid from J.G. Bowers for the Huntington North arena locker room renovation ($820,000) to address Title IX parity and provide ADA access; ACB General Contractor for secure vestibules at several schools ($305,700); and a $337,656.20 change order to add restrooms to ongoing Honey Creek North restroom renovations. Each award or change order was approved by unanimous vote.

Other business approved by the board included the March 2026 financial reports (education fund ending balance reported as $13,477,296; rainy day fund $3.9 million), renewal of the Synovia Solutions transportation system (annual cost discussed at about $43,000) to maintain GPS, time-and-attendance and navigation capabilities for buses, approval of summer-school staffing and an IREAD coordination plan, and a quote to migrate from BoardDocs to Diligent Community. All motions listed above carried 6–0 unless otherwise noted.

Votes at a glance • Tree nursery MOU (Huntington North Green Team): approved, 6–0. • Donation/MOU: 1991 Pierce Dash fire engine (Ryan and Taylor Tobin): approved, 6–0. • Consent agenda (administrative job descriptions, supplemental pay resolution, expulsion examiners, multiple hires including Hanson, Brown, Klausing, Lockmeyer): approved, 6–0. • Horace Mann memorial plaque installation (Huntington Township School memorial): approved, 6–0. • March 2026 financial reports: accepted, 6–0. • Synovia Solutions renewal (transportation GPS/time-and-attendance/navigation): approved, 6–0. • 2026 summer school staffing and IREAD coordination: approved, 6–0. • Diligent Community quote to replace BoardDocs: approved, 6–0. • J.G. Bowers bid — Huntington North arena locker rooms ($820,000): approved, 6–0. • ACB General Contractor — secure vestibules ($305,700): approved, 6–0. • Change order — Honey Creek North restroom additions ($337,656.20): approved, 6–0. • Appointment — Kenneth Thompson to Warren Redevelopment Commission and Warren Park Board: approved (five in favor; one abstention by Mr. Thompson).

Why it matters The package of approvals keeps multiple district operations on schedule: the tree nursery MOU ties student experiential learning to city-managed plantings, the donated fire engine expands the district’s career-technical resources, and the construction awards move several bond-funded safety and equity projects forward. The Synovia renewal preserves bus-safety monitoring and recordkeeping the district says it uses for stop-arm enforcement and driver logs.

What’s next Several first readings (substitute and administrator handbooks) were presented and will return for formal approval. Facilities work is scheduled to proceed over the summer per contractor timelines; several programs will continue to be staffed through the summer session.