RIVERSIDE

The Highland School Board approved 2025-26 contracts for teachers, administrators and classified workers at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday.

The contract agreement with teachers is for two years and came after negotiations over the past month.

“I feel like we’ve done our due diligence with the union,” Superintendent Ken Crawford told the Board at its meeting.

All staffers received at least a 3.35% pay increase.

Teacher salaries for the next school year go to nearly $70,000 and all are projected to be over $50,000.

The base salary for a new teacher is $30,415.

Bus drivers received an increase of $2 per route.

Graduation Week

Wednesday was the last full day for Highland High School seniors.

Principal Angela Hazelett told the Board that this year’s class consists of 45 graduates, including a small group of early grads.

Graduation ceremonies were held Sunday in the gymnasium at Highland High.

Bond Referendum

May 29 is the magic date for the $15 million Highland bond issue, which has been caught up in a legal battle in the courts since it passed by a small margin in the November 2024 election.

A Washington County district judge ruled in favor of the school district, but election challengers have until May 29 to file another appeal and possibly ask the Iowa Supreme Court to intervene.

The issue has been challenged because a small number of voters in Washington County who do not reside in the Highland Community Schools district received ballots by mistake and voted. Petitioners claim that invalidates the bond referendum vote.

The school district has temporarily halted plans for final designs and construction bids of a number of facility improvements until the issue is resolved. The $15 million bond would replace another bond that is about to be paid off and will not raise taxes, Crawford has told The News. The money will be used to build a multi-use indoor athletics and activities building at the high school, improved locker rooms, a new lobby and other improvements.

New Super

Spencer Lueders, who becomes the new schools superintendent for Highland and WACO on July 1, attended Monday’s meeting. He is finishing up his stint as principal of Central DeWitt Intermediate School.

Crawford is retiring at the end of the school year.

Lueders accepted a three-year contract from the School Board following a formal search.

Board Action

The Board accepted a check of $1,319.82 from Hills Bank as a part of the Classroom Cash program.

The Board heard a presentation from band instructor Andrew McDonald on a planned school trip to Italy in 2027. The Board approved the trip, which will be paid for by students and parents.

The Board approved a five-year contract with Pepsi.

The Board approved the appointments of Amy Keller, Elementary School teacher, and Kelsey Black, High School assistant volleyball coach; and the resignations of Mackenzie Streveler, Elementary School teacher, and Shayla Sells, Agricultural teacher and FFA Advisor.

The Board approved a number of policy updates.

Next Meeting

The board will hold its next formal meeting at 5 p.m. June 9.