Highlands County School Board approves two student assignment waivers for families citing stability and program access

The Highlands County School Board approved two student-assignment waivers on appeals from parents who told the board the transfers would provide stability or access to school programs.

Parent Orianna Santano asked the board to allow her daughter, Miranda Ferrer, to attend the requested zone school while the family works to move into the area. "My biggest concern is giving my daughter consistency and stability," Santano said, explaining the family is actively pursuing a mortgage and has relatives nearby who provide childcare and emergency support. Board questioning established that Miranda completed fourth grade last year at Heartland Christian Academy and will enter fifth grade this fall. After a motion to approve the waiver, the members present voted to approve the request.

In a separate appeal, parent Courtney Conklin requested a waiver for her daughter, Trinity Conklin, who she said needs access to career and technical offerings, including robotics and horticulture, that are not available at her zoned school. Trinity, who has spent two years in a virtual program, told the board she has "made a lot of friends and built a lot of connections" at Avon Park High School and argued remaining there would help her for senior year. The board moved and approved that waiver as well.

Before the appeals, Melissa Blackman of Student Support Services summarized how the district calculates enrollment counts that determine staffing and capacity. Blackman explained that students are "rolled up" to the next grade-level counts (for example, fifth-graders promoted to sixth-grade are counted in middle school numbers), that seniors who graduate are removed from counts, and that kindergarten staffing is allocated using the prior year’s year-end kindergarten count because many kindergarten enrollments occur late. She cited an Avon Elementary example where allocated staffing assumed 476 students while the current roll-up count was 453, a difference of 13 seats.

The board’s waiver notice—read at the start of the session—states speakers have three minutes, waivers may be rescinded if a student does not maintain passing grades, good attendance or appropriate behavior, and that families may reapply after school enrollment and capacities are finalized (the third week of school). The chair also noted only three board members were present for the session, so motions were required to take action. Clerk commentary in the record identified the motions and seconders (recorded in the minutes as made by "mister Whitting" with a second by "doctor Burns" for one appeal, and a motion by "mister Whitten" with a second by "mister Martin" for the other); both motions passed with the members present voting yes.

The board did not announce additional conditions beyond the standard rescind criteria; staff said student services would follow up with families of approved waivers in the coming days. The meeting then concluded.