Days away from the conclusion of one school year, the Houston board of education hired several teachers for the next one.
Among the hires was Michelle Wood to lead the district’s new cross country program. She will teach middle school health and physical education as well as coach middle school track.
The elementary school added a pair of new teachers with the additions of Courtney Neugebauer and Katarina Biland. Terry Vandivort will be the new high school building trades instructor.
Other additions to the district include Alex Carpenter (custodian), Jake Hood (middle school reading), Lillian Collins (diagnostician at Exceptional Child Cooperative) and Jessica Manion (co-op).
PDF: Minutes from May school board meeting
School board members also approved the extra duty assignments for the 2019-’20 school year. Among the notable moves was Brent Hall being named the assistant high school boys’ basketball coach. The assistant girls’ hoops coach, a position Hall filled last year, is still open. The head coaches of the tennis and golf programs are also undecided.
PDF: Extra duty list for 2019-20 at Houston Schools
The district accepted resignations from Kaylon Buckner (middle school physical education), Lisa Sherwood (paraprofessional), John Jordan (high school tennis), Carman Scholz (paraprofessional) and Dana Wilson (high school beta sponsor).
Also during last Thursday’s meeting, board members:
•Approved a detailed contract with Paragon Architecture for the gymnasium bond issue that was approved in April by voters. Dr. Allen Moss, superintendent, said the group will receive six percent of the total cost of the project.
•Based on a recommendation from Paragon, approved another $17,000 to be spent on the new boiler to increase longevity and performance. Moss said the site on campus is currently being prepared for the boiler.
•Received the preliminary budget from Moss for fiscal year 2010. It will be revisited at the June 11 meeting.
•Recognized middle school student of the month nominees Aliyah Walker and Lily Shelton.