Three employees in the Houston R-1 School District will retire at the end of the current school year.
During this week’s monthly meeting, the Board of Education accepted retirements from Dara Jackson (speech language pathologist at the Exceptional Child Cooperative), Mary Houselog (bus driver/SMTI driver) and Boulder McKinney (elementary physical education teacher).
Also during the closed session of Tuesday’s meeting, John Cope was hired as the new instructor of the Automotive Technology program that will launch in August 2026. He was additionally hired as Skills USA sponsor.
The board hired Adam Vandiver as head high school golf coach for the 2025-26 school year and Zelda Rose as a paraprofessional.
The board accepted resignations from Kayla Cooper (paraprofessional) and Trevor Sudheimer (assistant high school baseball coach). Cooper’s last day was Nov. 7
PRTC TAKING SHAPE WITH RENOVATIONS
Dr. Justin Copley, superintendent, said the Piney River Technical Center, which houses the district’s Career and Technical Education programs, is “taking shape at a rapid rate” as renovations continue in the facility.
The first phase on the east side of the building is nearing completion, Copley said. It includes two agriculture classrooms and storage, welding classroom and storage as well as male and female locker rooms. Copley said classes could move into the new spaces as early as this week.
The second phase will build new classrooms for Graphic Arts, Automotive Technology and a flex room that currently houses mathematics.
The automotive program is scheduled to launch in August 2026. District representatives have visited classrooms in Rolla, West Plains, Mountain Grove and Waynesville.
“The space is larger or as large as any site we’ve seen,” Copley said of the automotive classroom. “It’s a great space for our kids.”
The third phase, located in the rear of the building where The Durham Company currently rents space, will include relocating the current Health Science program. Copley said Durham should be out of the building in January.
GRADUATION DATE MOVED AWAY FROM SATURDAY
The board unanimously agreed to move the 2026 graduation date from May 9 to Friday, May 15. The start time will remain 7 p.m.
The district has held graduation on Saturdays in recent years with delayed starts due to postseason track competitions. Copley said there would likely be another conflict with district track scheduled for May 9.
Copley worked with HHS Principal Amanda Munson and Athletic Director Brent Hall to provide three alternate dates: May 2, May 10 and May 15.
Houston joins four other conference schools – Liberty, Salem, Mountain Grove and Willow Springs – with Friday graduation ceremonies. Copley told the board he would like the change to be temporary for now.
APR CELEBRATION, AUDIT PRESENTATION PART OF MEETING
Also during last week’s monthly board meeting:
•The district’s administrative team shared a detailed report of the school’s Annual Performance Report, which led Texas County and the South Central Association. Houston’s overall score improved from 79.6 to 86.5.
•An audit presentation was made by Catlett & Associates LLC. It was approved minus the single audit compliance review sections.
•A drawing was held for winners of the district’s raffle to benefit the launch of the Automotive Technology program. The winners were Lee Walker (hunting blind fabricated by the HHS welding class) and Dax Copley (Savage Axis II XP 6.5 Creedmoor)
•Board members approved the following: MSBA Policy 2025D related to school safety; job descriptions for Automotive Technology and director of the Exceptional Child Cooperative; Special Education Compliance Plan; Policy IGBB – Programs for Gifted Students; and Library Media Services program.
•Copley told the board a new scoreboard has been ordered for Carter Field, where the HHS softball team plays.
•Tracy Hughes, middle school principal, shared special recognition for Karen Smith, high school and middle school nurse, for the many ways she assists around the building and cares for students and staff.
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