With a goal of fostering greater student engagement and school spirit, the Houston High School Student Council received the green light Tuesday night for a brand-new approach to homecoming.
Gone are the traditional class float building and floats in the parade – at least for a trial year. They will be replaced with weeklong activities for the student body and themed banners in the parade that members of each class will walk behind.
The idea was pitched to the board of education during its July monthly meeting by STUCO members Addison Neugebauer, Riley Wilson and Marley Pearson. Following the presentation, school board member Jeff Gettys made a motion to move forward with the homecoming plan. Charlie Malam seconded. It passed 4-2 with Gettys and Marty Merckling voting no.
The 2025 HHS homecoming is the weekend of Sept. 12.
“We received a lot of valuable feedback from the school board,” Neugebauer said. “I am very excited to move forward with this proposal and try something new.”
The STUCO representatives shared several areas of concern as part of their presentation. Among them were poor student participation, limited float building space with the move of the weight room from the Big Red Building to the former maintenance building and rising costs. The students said the council gives $250 to each class for its floats and awards another $1,000 in prize money. The remaining costs of float building comes from class accounts, which they said taps into resources for prom and senior trips.
Instead of nightly float building, the student council said it could sponsor student activities such as wiffle and kick ball tournaments, ultimate frisbee, movie and trivia nights, bingo and pep events, including tailgates before volleyball games and a Thursday night bonfire. Student input will be sought for specific activities.
For the parade, the student council will provide banners for each class to theme and decorate. Prize points will be awarded as part of Battle of the Classes, which will be a yearlong competition.
The student council, which is led by sponsors Hershel Williams III and Jason Pounds, told the school board they desired to try the new approach for one year as “a chance to try something new in hopes of involving more students and building more excitement in the days leading up to homecoming.”
“I’m feeling really positive about our council’s decisions and the dedication of our members moving forward,” Wilson said. “We all hope to foster a greater environment for the student body of Houston High School, and we’ve proven that we are ready to go to bat and put in the work for our students.
APPROVALS BY THE BOARD
- The 2025-26 district chromebook handbook, which outlines procedures, rights, responsibilities, care and expectations for students.
- Bartlett & West Task Order #3 for the purpose of Piney River Technical Center (PRTC) construction documents.
- A bid package for the PRTC from Bartlett & West Engineering, which has offices in Rolla.
- Advance Care Physical Therapy to provide services for the upcoming school year to the district and Exceptional Child Cooperative (ECC).
- Children’s Behavioral Services was approved to provide services to the ECC.
- The Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) plan and staff handbook were approved.
- A Missouri State High School Activities Association cooperative sponsorship agreement allowing for partnerships with the Raymondville and Success school districts was approved. The agreement includes middle and high school cross country, football, basketball, track and softball.
- Policy GCBC to include language that the first year membership with the Missouri Retired Teachers Association is not to exceed $50 was set by the board.
- The drug testing handbook for the upcoming school year. The district will conduct saliva testing rather than urine.
- The food service program evaluation presented by Donna Crisp, food services director.
OTHER SCHOOL BOARD ACTIONS
- Dr. Justin Copley, superintendent, shared details of the Career and Technical Education Limited Access Grant (Round 2) from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The district’s local match of the $400,000 it will receive is $133,333. The final invoice for the 75/25 grant must be submitted by June 1, 2026.
- A second reading of the district curriculum guide was held. The first took place at the June meeting. Final approval will be considered in August.
- A first reading was held of the MSBA 2025B update, which addresses a district’s responsibilities in providing notice and an opportunity to be heard to those individuals who have been excluded and/or banned from district property. It will be revisited.
- The 2025 tax rate hearing was set for 5:15 p.m. Aug. 12 prior to the next regular meeting.
- The open session adjourned at 7:44 p.m. Board president Jennifer Scheets was absent.