Highlands says goodbye to 4 outgoing school board members

Highlands School Board gave fond farewells Monday night to four of its members who are leaving the nine-member board following this year’s election.

Leaving the board are Michael Masarik from Region 1, Jeff Mundy from Region 2, and Heath Cohen and Michelle Peters from Region 3.

Superintendent Monique Mawhinney praised them for their service and support to the district.

“Sometimes it can be a thankless job,” she said. “You will be missed.”

Board President Debbie Beale praised each of them for their contributions, noting they were on the board as it took on major issues and decisions, including closing the former Fawn elementary school, the district’s budget and bus contract.

“You all made a difference in this district,” she said.

While Mawhinney and Beale presented each of them with gifts, Mundy had one of his own for the district.

Mundy, one of the board’s representatives to the Forbes Road Career & Technology Center, donated back to the district the nearly $800 he was paid in mileage reimbursement to attend meetings at the Monroeville school. The board voted to accept it.

The school board will meet to reorganize at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3 in the library at Highlands High School in Harrison.

Judy Wisner from Region 1 is the only incumbent board member whose seat was up and is remaining on the board.

The newly elected members are Gene Witt, also from Region 1; Kelli Canonge in Region 2; and Kristie Babinsack and Laura Butler in Region 3.

All five were uncontested in the Nov. 5 election.