The Recorder on August 21, 2025
MONTEREY — The Highland Parent Teacher Partnership has finished its fundraising efforts to strengthen the Highland County School Board’s signing bonus for licensed teachers. After an anonymous community member pledged an initial $5,000, several civic clubs responded to the call for pledge, bringing the total match to $9.000.
Those clubs include the Bolar Ruritan Club, the Monterey Lions Club, the Blue Grass Ruritan Club, and the Mill Gap Ruritan Club. “Although we feel it unlikely the school will meet the parameters of the signing bonus as per their metric, the PTO feels the willingness of the civic organizations is a symbolic gesture illustrating and galvanizing the community’s desire for hiring efforts of licensed and/or highly qualified employees to be emphasized moving forward,” said member Bryan Obaugh. The school only has one open position left, that of vocational hard trades teacher.
The school board’s hiring bonus comes with the condition of working for Highland County Public Schools for three years or repaying a prorated amount of the bonus.
The Highland Parent Teacher Partnership is offering a $9,000 signing bonus with no additional conditions. The partnership meets the fourth Tuesday each month at 7 p.m. in Highland Elementary School library and all are welcome to attend.