In the same meeting when its current agriculture teacher resigned early from his contract, Houston Schools filled the position for next school year.
The district accepted a resignation from Scott Long during the closed session of last Tuesday’s monthly school board meeting. He was assessed a $1,500 penalty for breaking his contract mid-year.
The board hired Katelyn Hodges to fill the position at the beginning of the 2017-’18 school year. Hodges is a Salem native who is completing her student teaching in northern Missouri.
Neither move was unanimously approved. Russell Gaither dissented on accepting Long’s resignation, and both he and Curtis Hubbs voted against Hodges’ hiring.
Dr. Allen Moss, superintendent, said the district is seeking an instructor to fill in the remainder of the school year before transitioning the program to Hodges.
“We’re doing everything we can to help the kids get through the end of the year,” Moss said. “The FFA officers have been great at communicating with us and showing leadership, and area ag teachers have been very supportive and guiding us in what we need to do.”
Long, a longtime and previously retired agriculture teacher, was hired in July 2016 after Josh Roehrs left the district. Long agreed to teach and lead the FFA program for one year until a full-time instructor was hired for 2017-’18.
A large group of citizens addressed the board concerning Long and the agriculture program at the beginning of the board meeting.
“I visited with a couple of them afterwards and assured them what happened had absolutely nothing to do with a lack of support of the ag program,” Moss said. “This was Mr. Long’s choice. I hate it for the kids, but I appreciate everything he did up to this point.”