RIVERSIDE

The Highland School Board approved the hiring of Thayne McElhinney as head football coach during its regularly scheduled meeting Monday.

McElhinney, who was an assistant coach at Lone Tree last fall, will inherit a varsity football program that will be shared by Highland and Lone Tree, as approved by both school boards in March. The team will compete in Iowa’s 11-man Class A under the Highland-Lone Tree name.

All varsity home games and practices will be held at Highland. Lone Tree will host the junior high program.

McElhinney, currently a teacher at Lone Tree, is also being hired as a physical education teacher at Highland.

“He has a passion for the sport, a passion for the kids,” said Spencer Lueders, Superintendent of Schools. “I’m really excited for him.”

The Board also approved the appointments of Cam Larson as head boys basketball coach, and Anne Schlabaugh and Kelsey Black as co-head volleyball coaches.

Larson replaces Bill Zywiec, who is an assistant principal at the high school.

Schools Budget

The Board held a public hearing on the 2026-27 budget at Monday’s meeting, then approved the budget.

The budget includes $6.43 million in instructional services, $3.88 million for support services and $1.9 million for other expenditures.

The property tax levy rate for FY27 is $10.96165 with a tax asking of $4.24 million.

No district residents spoke during the public hearing.

Huskies in Court

A decision by the Iowa State Supreme Court on the contested Highland Schools bond referendum is expected by late May, Superintendent Spencer Lueders told The News.

Legal arguments were heard March 26 in front of the State Supreme Court at Drake University Law School in Des Moines.

“A big step for Highland,” Board Vice President Dan Ruth said.

The school district won a court decision in early 2025, but that decision was appealed to the State Supreme Court.

At issue is a $15 million bond that would be used for additions and improvements at Highland High School and Highland Elementary. The vote passed by a small margin, but a number of ballots in Ainsworth were given to residents who were not school district residents.

Twister Scare

A tornado warning April 2 led to a delayed dismissal, and tense moments, in all Highland schools.

Instead of bus transportation, kids were picked up by parents at the schools.

“I think the district did really well,” Elementary School Principal Jane O’Leary said. “The kids were safe and that’s what matters.”

“We learned a lot,” High School/Junior High Principal Angela Hazelett said.

The tornado warning stretched from Wellman to Kalona and Riverside with sirens also going off in Tiffin, Iowa City and West Branch.

Board Action

The Board approved spending $43,100 for 100 laptop computers that will be used by students.

The Board approved the Fiscal Year 2025 audit report.

The Board approved appointments of Sarah Schneider and Julie Colbert, Daycare site supervisors; Taylor Northrup and Jordan Tripses, Elementary School associates; Rafael Gammon, JV soccer coach; Anne Schlabaugh, high school assistant and junior high school girls wrestling coach; Jonathan Chaney, junior high girls and boys basketball coach; Jaden Prottsman, high school assistant golf coach.

Next Meeting

The Board will hold its next formal meeting at 5 p.m. May 11.