Highland board members sworn in

By Sandra French
The Highland Board of Education met Monday, September 15, and  relected incumbents, Ed Ossman and Bruce Temple, were sworn in. Mike Roberts and Cindy Michel were reelected President and Vice President, respectively.
Jane O’Leary presented the Annual Progress Report with “No Child Left Behind” proficiency goals for academic year 2007-2008. The goals for 2006-2007 were accomplished, except for 6th-8th grade and 9th-11th grade math.
The board elected member Robert Schneider to the Area Education Agency Board for District 6.
Jennifer Wagner, high school music instructor, advised the board that two fund raiser lobbyists had been roaming the high school without appointments and  interrupted rehearsals  of Little Shop of Horrors. She requested that lobbyists be required to follow the rules for entering the building. The board members agreed.
Wagner also assured the board that the play, will have cuss words and innuendoes removed, and the character of Audrey will be transformed from a sort of floozy to an ugly-Betty type, so that the play will be family-oriented. Bruce Temple asked that student ad libs during the performance be controlled.
The board noted that the cost of adult lunches will increase to $2.85 to meet rising costs.
Except for the lunch program, all items in the budget are in positive balance, the board was told, but meeting transportation costs will likely require cuts in other budget areas in the near future.
One student request to participate on the Iowa City West High School swim team was approved by the board.
Four students attended the meeting to request early graduation.  The requests were approved.
The next meeting of the board is October 13, 2008.