Summary of Board Meeting from 12-3-2024

Harrison County Schools

December 16, 2024

Below is an AI Summary of the BOE Regular Meeting on December 3rd, 2024. To watch the meeting, please visit this link.

Recognitions:

  1. Retirees:

    • The board thanked many teachers and staff who retired this year for their hard work. They were invited to become substitute teachers if interested.

  2. AP Scholars:

    • Bridgeport High School was honored for having lots of students succeed in Advanced Placement (AP) classes. Over 82% earned college credits.

  3. Math Field Day Winners:

    • Students from elementary, middle, and high schools were recognized for doing great in the county’s Math Field Day competition.

  4. Teacher of the Year Award:

    • Amy Mortensen, a teacher at Liberty High School, won an award for being an excellent educator.

  5. Emerging Leader Award:

    • Joselyn Humpy was honored for her work as an accountant and was named a leader in school business by a regional group.

Main Discussions:

  1. Dental Benefits Change:

    • The board talked about possibly switching from one company to another for employee dental insurance. Some dentists and employees were worried about the change. The board decided to pause the decision to gather more information.

  2. School Buildings and HVAC Problems:

    • The board heard about some heating and cooling problems in classrooms and shared updates on fixing gym floors and electrical systems at schools.

  3. Merging Two Schools:

    • Two schools are being combined, and the board is working on staff assignments and plans to help students and teachers adjust.

  4. Losing Students:

    • The district has been losing some students to private schools and programs. The board is working on figuring out why and how to help students stay in local schools.

  5. Social Media:

    • The board shared updates on how they use Facebook to share school news and keep families informed.

Decisions Made:

  1. The board approved regular staff updates and building maintenance plans.

  2. They decided to wait before changing the dental insurance company to gather more input from employees and dentists.

Final Notes:

  • Board members thanked retirees and encouraged more families and staff to come to meetings to stay informed.