Personnel changes dominated the most recent meeting of the Houston school board.
It was a busy night last Tuesday as members made important hires. Among them were selecting a new high school principal and filling several coaching voids in the district.
Amy Smith, an assistant principal at Moberly High School, was named as the replacement for outgoing HHS principal Charlie Malam, who is retiring. She was one of two finalists interviewed by the school board.
Smith’s hiring was one of four high-profile positions filled by the board. Matt Hardy (high school boys’ basketball coach), Jim Moore (high school girls’ basketball coach, golf and assistant softball coach) and Loran Richardson (high school volleyball coach and wellness coordinator) were all selected to fill voids at Houston Schools. Richardson’s husband, Jeff, was also hired as the new assistant baseball coach.
Also at the meeting, school board members:
•Hired Lyman Brown (part-time high school teacher), Charles Marks (personal aide) and Missy Reed (middle school guidance counselor) for positions for the 2016-’17 school year.
•Accepted resignations from Angela Turner (middle school cheerleading sponsor), Amelia Martin (speech-language pathologist), Logann Driskell (speech-language pathologist), Ryan Munson (assistant baseball and softball coach), Lynette Wheeler (paraprofessional), Veronica Douglas (paraprofessional), Robert James (middle school physical education) and Nathan Christeson (middle school science).
•Certified the election results from the April election. Curtis Hubbs and Jennifer Scheets were both re-elected to the board and sworn in by Tanya Bathon, executive board secretary.
•Selected Jo Holland (president), Sam Kelley (vice president) and Leon Slape (secretary/treasurer) as board officers. Bathon was also approved to continue in her role.
•Agreed to allow Dill to set a date for a public forum to discuss the future of the Fine Arts Building. The district has explored demolition costs while also hearing information from Houston citizen John Impey, who wants the facility restored.
•The board approved hazardous material abatement of the building for $46,892.50.
•Approved employee insurance options for 2016-’17. There was no increase.
•Set an auction of surplus property for June 2.
•Approved a bid for $49,186.68 for work on the Hiett Gymnasium boiler line.
•Were led in the pledge of allegiance by middle school students Madison Graeff and Devin Casey. Both were recent nominees for student of the month honors.
PDF: Official minutes from last week’s Houston school board meeting