Huntingdon School Board Tours Schools

HUNTINGDON (December 3) — Members of the Huntingdon Special School District spent Tuesday morning, December 3, visiting schools and speaking with administrators, teachers, and students to get a first-hand view of the schools.

The Huntingdon High School tour was led by Principal Porsche McClerking. The Board visited the STEM Lab, JAG classroom, and the Agriculture class, including the greenhouse and the HHS store, where students will sell student-grown or made items.

At Huntingdon Middle School, board members heard about updates to instruction and health services; at Huntingdon Primary School, the board heard about school safety updates and viewed the newly constructed addition.

Prior to the tour, the board met in formal session and approved tenure for three teachers: Hannah Chumney - seventh grade math teacher; Alicia Warbritton - seventh and eighth grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher; Misty Gray - first grade teacher.

Staff changes were acknowledged.

Three persons were employed. Emily Cole - Huntingdon Food Service; Abigail St. Clair - HMS Sixth Grade ELA; Jeremy Jones - HMS Eighth Grade Science.

Resignations acknowledged were: Christy Hanna - HPS Food Service; Kensley Crossno - HMS Sixth Grade ELA; and Michelle Forbess - HMS Eighth Grade Science.

Director Jonathan Kee recommended a clarification to the school’s requirements for graduation. The school requires a total of 28 credits prior to graduation. The state generally requires a minimum of 22 credits. Also, the state allows a student to graduate with as few as 17 credits under legislation called Move On When Ready Act. However, to qualify, a student must declare his or her intent when entering the freshman year.

The board heard from supervisors Alan Eubanks, Scott Carter and Christy Carey to learn about updates to the Innovative School Model and its sustainability, new technology, and Special Education.

Candance Todd addressed the board with a concern about proceeds from a junior class fundraiser that were deposited in a parent’s individual bank account, not in the school’s account. It was the junior class-sponsored homecoming dance. Todd is the mother of a member of the junior class. She said teachers help collect the funds, it was advertised as a school dance, but yet the funds were deposited in the individual person’s account.

Dr. Kee said he addressed the issue to ensure the segregation of school and private events and the money raised. He is additionally seeking legal opinions on how to prevent this from occurring in the future.