[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6248537,"mediaKeyId","3209932-69e49b51ed0e33d2bed4d3b186285a5e","parentId",3209932,"title","Board approves consent agenda, personnel actions, ELL plan and interlocal agreement for Lake Placid High School site work","audioSeconds",216,"startMs",1788000,"endMs",2004000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209932-69e49b51ed0e33d2bed4d3b186285a5e&start=1788&end=2004","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209932-69e49b51ed0e33d2bed4d3b186285a5e/thumbnail_1788000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6248537/Florida/Board-approves-consent-agenda-personnel-actions-ELL-plan-and-interlocal-agreement-for-Lake-Placid-High-School-site-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248537-543b819cd124655870519b5a24f1f0a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427800&Signature=MvMaLgFMcw-HotKzJY1oB3-Tt~auDtw~bJl2nwl3qhAGYYwXJNkpHmQwd-BCsFFcFKXc3IZ0qVJdCvnhfOzFSIt10WOPHGcG2XRGfOl9SnlV4srw3YNOXUpIKmgxPBpwMTcF0MUWWOTDhl4b7QLkExnNNJ2McnqbIytkib88n7sKJlEXkEOZBhcOt3LE1e5zSHEnlbQV3w-5I-qhCeMX4qxJtlXEciiBQM3JkVxAsLbOz~vHWQziG5WBHMJA2y8EUIteyNfEG6PN~gEHuiHHQwlv1~F-k9rPTSFKL-AXeWgPSC1af2HhiZCArcTEtn3l5RC1NCh~etnF1-1MKz8IKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Highlands County School Board, FL","date","2025-05-07T00:00:00Z","article","The Highlands County School Board approved a slate of routine and substantive items including personnel recommendations, expulsions, the district English language learners plan for 2025–2028 and an interlocal agreement with the Town of Lake Placid for installation of a sewer lift station and a generator at Lake Placid High School.

The board adopted the revised agenda and then approved the consent agenda as revised. A motion to approve the superintendent’s personnel recommendations was made and seconded; the motion passed on roll call. The board also considered and approved expulsions; the motion passed on roll call.

On item 12(a), the board approved the district English language learners plan for school years 2025–2028 after a motion and second and a roll-call vote. On item 13(a), the board approved an interlocal agreement with the Town of Lake Placid concerning installation of a sewer lift station and generator on property at Lake Placid High School; the town had retained separate counsel to negotiate the agreement, and the board attorney announced that her office represents both the district and the town for the matter and so disclosed that fact to the board.

Where motions and seconds were recorded in the meeting transcript they included: a motion to approve the superintendent’s personnel recommendations moved by Doctor Duran and seconded by Mister Witten; a motion to approve expulsions moved by Miss Howerton and seconded by Mister Wynne; and a motion to approve the interlocal agreement moved by Mister Wing (recorded as the mover) with a second recorded. Roll-call votes were recorded as \"Yes\" by board members present for each approval; the transcript records roll-call affirmations from multiple members but does not include a complete, consolidated vote-tally table in the record.

The board did not report any emergency items and heard no HCEA member comments at the meeting. The superintendent announced a budget and allocation workshop on May 13 followed by a special meeting focused on athletic-field care, and requested an executive session immediately following the May 19 meeting regarding collective bargaining; that request was noted, not voted on at this meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Highlands County School Board Meeting 5/6/25 ","oneSentenceSummary","The Highlands County School Board approved the revised agenda, the consent items, the superintendent’s personnel recommendations, expulsions, the 2025–2028 English Language Learners plan, and an interlocal agreement with the Town of Lake Placid for a sewer lift station and generator on Lake Placid High School property.","taxTitle","HIGHLANDS, School Districts, Florida","taxId",15384,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6248542,"Resident urges board to restore religious context in schools and cites Florida statute",451,903000,1354000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209932-69e49b51ed0e33d2bed4d3b186285a5e&start=903&end=1354","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209932-69e49b51ed0e33d2bed4d3b186285a5e/thumbnail_903000.jpg","/articles/6248542/Florida/Resident-urges-board-to-restore-religious-context-in-schools-and-cites-Florida-statute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248542-343fc4ec10e716f8d965d9ad3cf84e81/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427800&Signature=AC2z4fYjltCYrSZjiIWu3iwbSOOfUptDbHdRvHjGt1Yv6ECoSocm0rPvEl6dFl4afJlvxMPv4hZduaXCXqyzeJW-uwaf8dL17VUkIi-CEuqeIk5HUWku528joWmtbi41jxUNlOltIne3bEIWAYF18VWbTCZGK-nNCJn3PPb9KJQYc3gEJk9dnAN4HPrFAu2dHGxuo2HkgtRxCCP8YdLlMWYLwwaf1faLGcsealO8RN3WpeHa9LWup2yfANYs4Cqu0o12iud~IPFntZ4zmNHL2N~F~eCzJYvKVb4TyKi-34~IcSejQFx~bI498YMfYKsSurp9pTRkfENXssa-0TpoHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Larry Overfield, who identified himself as a Highlands County property owner and taxpayer, used his public-comment time to urge the school board to \"regain\" what he described as the historical linkage between religion, morality and education.

Overfield cited Florida Statute 1003.45, paragraph 1, and said the district \"may install in the public schools a secular program of education including, but not limited to, an objective study of the Bible and of religion.\" He also referenced the 1787 Northwest Ordinance and quoted from a Yale University Press article (attributed to Ronald Hendel) about recent actions in Oklahoma regarding Bibles in classrooms. \"The context of our history, Bible, faith, schools, and education has always been presented as 1 thought. We have lost this and need to regain it,\" Overfield said.

He acknowledged there are pros and cons to the idea and offered contact information for others interested in supporting the effort. Overfield read from historical documents and invoked the Declaration of Independence in closing remarks.

The board did not take action on his petition at the meeting; his comments were recorded during the public-comment portion of the agenda.","A Highlands County property owner and taxpayer urged the board to reintroduce religious education context and referenced Florida Statute 1003.45 and historical documents in a public comment.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6248547,"Board discusses possible revision to policy requiring 18-month wait to rename schools",153,1232000,1385000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209932-69e49b51ed0e33d2bed4d3b186285a5e&start=1232&end=1385","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209932-69e49b51ed0e33d2bed4d3b186285a5e/thumbnail_1232000.jpg","/articles/6248547/Florida/Board-discusses-possible-revision-to-policy-requiring-18-month-wait-to-rename-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248547-eea1d759221f3a698b274cb39c30ca2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427800&Signature=Pkyob6VD9bjhckNYm~1JX1HEJDDgyy4UET1Uvyu1jAaB7zTZ-hHAyC8fjUnxT0eEVCwHIgEQ23tW3PIJUAhrK6C~otTyMNFCzHvkU24KtLfCy~VP2QzAFD2jGodix6yZkLDokTXOmglOOuuoyy-CR7LKNgI3-1lHT8qOJYuHIsL7Oi5k43xeU~0D4BZHxnpm~UyUkT277d3fvZl2eslDkCNBWW44Rap7hY9yg9p8OjA6c9zODSNknfunaWgRUQdfiaQ6Uz1RxQkfjCwE0N~7kWe9Jq5ScGIXb9zA4A4RlRkpJLQNAJzW-izmH7fPsuyS8m5eQtuf6kRn4XGqyeveJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Highlands County School Board discussed a potential revision to Policy 7,250, which governs commemoration and the naming of school facilities, after the superintendent said a building move may make an existing name inappropriate.

Board Attorney Nash summarized the policy’s key language: \"the name of a new or existing school once adopted by the board shall be considered permanent. However, should the board subsequently initiate or be called upon to consider a name change of an existing previously named school, then in that event, the board shall allow a period of time not less than 18 months from said date for community involvement, deliberation, discussion, and debate prior to taking applicable\" actions. Nash said she could not find statutory authority requiring the 18-month waiting period and that the language appears to have been adopted around 2018.

Superintendent Doctor Longshore told the board the district will need to look at renaming one entity as programs and campus locations (including Highlands Virtual School and an academy referenced as being on Youth Care Lane) transition. He asked that staff work with Nash and bring recommendations to a future policy workshop so the board could consider changes that would allow more flexibility when a school’s circumstances change.

Board members asked whether the 18-month period could be shortened to allow the board to adjust names when a school is no longer located on the street or site referenced in its name. Nash said the policy, as written, sets the 18-month minimum and that changing it would require a policy change. The board did not take formal action at the meeting; staff were asked to prepare recommended revisions and workshop materials.","Board members and the board attorney discussed Policy 7,250 (commemoration and naming of school facilities), which currently requires an 18-month community process before renaming an existing school; staff recommended reviewing the policy for flexibility when a school’s location or circumstances change.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6248552,"Highlands district reports about 13% drop in projected energy costs after audits and scheduling changes",376,1434000,1810000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209932-69e49b51ed0e33d2bed4d3b186285a5e&start=1434&end=1810","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209932-69e49b51ed0e33d2bed4d3b186285a5e/thumbnail_1434000.jpg","/articles/6248552/Florida/Highlands-district-reports-about-13-drop-in-projected-energy-costs-after-audits-and-scheduling-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248552-bf1a6d752070d96cbf9259f267b33aa7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770427800&Signature=lCzpSw-UGrKOHYx0cqVnecj1ZGCJdwEqSbkcJ5f9I7ZZQE-XmsEjRz6bdFS8W6lOfOcbgmkM9dL4C6SKSVeP~LcQHFP4kTPij1Q4Wojfh44L5gGVvkzY2Vs8YR~vIT6C4tuyVwCSpEASetZKKXRYrpFMT-LEJF5hGnRSdi9cnqclBqJATQz-urT~d3REUv0gaWJPbTaaChN3W9EsEIUmlkozj1PHqxKcfMTRV0X01JOS33lhIjwK-B9ZT432IzgEY4NJspxe-fUzGQPu3GyBgmuqlG2n4acGdO1Purjc9gywh96qkPqkETknC9Db6MYKpja4VEYlpzXq1IPfsik~Hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Highlands County School Board heard an energy update on district utility spending from Edwin Delgado, the district’s manager of energy and utility, who said the district’s proactive measures have produced early savings.

Delgado told the board the district’s total energy expenditure for 2024 was approximately $3,430,000 and the two most expensive months were February and November because of heating and cooling demand. He said spending through March 2025 totaled a little over $659,000 and that the district projects yearly energy costs for 2025 of about $2,850,000.

The presentation framed the difference as a roughly $185,000 reduction — about 13% — from 2024 to the 2025 projection. \"We are on track to spend roughly $2,850,000 which will result in a projected saving of $185,000,\" Delgado said. He attributed the improvement to a districtwide energy audit program, weekly energy audits at schools, AC scheduling for holidays and events, LED lighting rollouts in partnership with facilities, and regular HVAC filter maintenance.

Delgado described the district’s process for projecting 2025 spending: combining actual spending through March with projected costs for April through December based on the prior six months of data. He said average monthly energy costs in 2024 were a little over $258,000 and that early 2025 months averaged about $220,000.

Board members responded positively to the report. The superintendent thanked Delgado and district leadership for the update and said the board looks forward to reinvesting savings into schools.

Delgado closed by thanking facilities staff for cooperation and asking for continued board support for the energy-management initiative.","The Highlands County School District energy manager told the board the district spent about $3.43 million on energy in 2024 and projects roughly $2.85 million for 2025, a projected savings of about $185,000 tied to audits, AC scheduling and LED rollouts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves consent agenda, personnel actions, ELL plan and interlocal agreement for Lake Placid High School site work

Resident urges board to restore religious context in schools and cites Florida statute

Board discusses possible revision to policy requiring 18-month wait to rename schools

Highlands district reports about 13% drop in projected energy costs after audits and scheduling changes