Citizens' Advisory Committee Minutes

Meeting Date: January 11, 2021
Time: 5:30 P.M.
Place: School Board of Highlands County Garland Boggus Board Room

Welcome: Superintendent Brenda Longshore opened the meeting at 5:35 PM.

Roll Call:

  1. Members present: Chet Brojek, Curt Matthews, Diane Juve, John Shoop (virtual).

  2. Members absent: Jason Biance, Joe Wright, Maria Telesky, Tiffany Green, Velma Lumpkin.

  3. District staff present: Donna Howerton, Brenda Longshore, Mike Averyt, Frank Brown, Darrell Layfield, Harry Howes, Cindy Wester (recorder).

  4. Athletic Task Force members present: Dave Travers, J. C. Shoop, Bob Swaine, and Bill Jarrett

Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the September meeting were presented and reviewed. There was no vote to approve due to a lack of quorum.

Superintendent’s Report: Dr. Longshore updated the committee on her conversations with Legislators Tuck and Albritton about changing the legislative language to include use of half-cent sales tax funds for bus purchases.

Financial Report: Assistant Superintendent Mike Averyt presented the update on capital expenditures. He stated approximately $11,000,000 would be available for projects. He announced School Board Walk-throughs for schools and district office facilities and invited committee members to attend.

  1. Chair Curt Matthews asked for a year-by-year breakdown of expenditures. Mike Averyt will send the file to all committee members and share it with the board members.

  2. Diane Juve inquired if there were specific directions on where the money is spent. Mike Averyt addressed this.

  3. J.C. Shoop asked if the $878,000 listed was hurricane-related. Mike Averyt affirmed.

Mr. Averyt explained that the District Office amounts are high because the District serves as the purchasing agent for technology. The District receives and then disperses new purchases to the schools. Bill Jarrett shared his concern about the perception of a much higher dollar amount associated with the District Office than to schools. Chair Matthews recommended an outreach on social media explaining how funds are spent. Dr. Longshore stated that she would include an explanation in her Superintendent’s Corner article published monthly in the Highlands News-Sun.

Athletic Task Force (ATF) Report: Mike Averyt introduced ATF Chair J.C. Shoop. Chair Shoop shared the ATF projects cost lists. The top priorities are:

  1. Locker room building at Lake Placid High

  2. Tracks at all three high schools

  3. Re-sodding the baseball field at Lake Placid High

  4. Weight room facility (old auditorium building) at Avon Park High

Bill Jarrett spoke about the importance of community partnerships, reminding the committee that this is a 16-year plan and encouraged the committee to find ways to boost communities and the county at large to join in the work. He continued that principals presented their wish lists and stated that he would like to have more dialog to make these wishes a reality. He spoke about the percentages that each group would be responsible for and the importance of seeing the projects through to completion in each community. Mr. Jarrett talked about the importance of building a budget and asking the School Board to allocate funds based on the economy.

Chair Matthews agreed with the ATF’s findings and recommendations. Mr. Averyt stated that he submitted an RPAC application to locate other funding sources. Dr. Longshore said that athletics are important to our schools, and at the end of 20 years, it would be nice for the community to see their dollars at work.

Bob Swaine recommended a coordination of effort between the Athletic Task Force and the Half-Cent Sales Tax Citizens Advisory Committee to bring the project lists to reality. ATF Chair Shoop and Dr. Longshore agreed that a partnership would be beneficial.

Lack of Quorum and Membership: There was no action taken at this meeting due to a lack of quorum. Chair Matthews expressed concern over the lack of quorums at recent meetings and asked Dr. Longshore about a review of the by-laws on removing non-attending members and recruiting new ones. Dr. Longshore will follow up.

Closing remarks: Mike Averyt reminded everyone of the board workshop on Wednesday, January 13, and the walk-throughs on January 21 and 22. All members of both committees were invited to attend.

Next Meeting and Adjourn: The next meeting will occur in the 2021-second quarter to be announced later. The meeting concluded at 6:15 PM.