Highland School Board Wants To Meet With State School Superintendent

Monterey, VA – The Highland County School Board is looking to set up a meeting with the State Superintendent of Schools to get advice on how to improve funding for the school in future years. Enrollments are expected to decrease for a few years and then stabilize around 220 students. But that decrease in enrollment from the current 244 students will mean a loss of over 10% of the state funding for the school.

At the recent budget meetings between the [Highland] Board of Supervisors and the School Board, the Supervisors recommended that the School Board set up this meeting with State Department of Education officials. [Highland School]Superintendent Percy Nowlin says that the School Board will ask Governor Bob McDonnells office to set up a meeting discuss state funding, particularly for small schools.

Highland Supervisor Robin Sullenberger has been appointed by the governor to a state commission on education. Nowlin is hopeful that Sullenberger can use this position to bring attention to the budget constraints faced by Highland.

Mr Nowlin reminded school board members of another important task they have to complete over the summer – the review of the Crisis Management Policy. He says School Board members have until August 31st to review the document. He points out that no changes have been made to the policy since last year.

The Board of Supervisors approved in principle funding capital improvements at the school for next year including air conditioning in the computer labs and ceiling insulation for classrooms. The Supervisors have asked the School Board to initiate the bid process for that work.

In other business, the school board approved Robin Evans as a substitute teacher for next year and volunteer assistant coaches Todd Brindel and Jaquin Hill for the mixed martial arts club.

Finally, Mr. Nowlin had a recommendation for the board regarding the media honor roll.

“I like to nominate [The Recorder reporter] Jim Jacenich and [Allegheny Mountain Radio reporter] Keith Carson” says Nowlin “as far as I’m concerned I think they’ve done a Super job.”

The Board passed a motion to approve Mr. Nowlins recommendation.