Pirate News

Brandon Bruce hired as Hart High School principal

August 6, 2025

Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.  By Allison Scarbrough, Editor HART – Brandon Bruce is excited to be back as Hart Public Schools high school principal. Bruce, 53, was hired back at Hart Public Schools two years ago as the Spitler Elementary School principal after serving as superintendent of his alma…

Read more »

Hart seeking new high school principal

July 23, 2025

Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.   By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — Hart High School Principal Ken Byard has resigned, and the district is seeking a new principal. Byard was hired as interim principal for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year after principal Troy Moran died ‎and was hired…

Read more »

Hart superintendent to retire at end of school year

July 16, 2025

Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.   By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor.  HART — Mark Platt will be the longest-serving superintendent in Hart Public School’s history when he retires at the end of the upcoming 2025-26 school year. Platt, 59, has led a team of dedicated educators with the cooperation of strong…

Read more »

Julia McTaggart awarded Oceana County Democratic Party scholarship

July 11, 2025

HART — Recent Hart High School graduate Julia McTaggart was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the Oceana County Democratic Party. The Oceana County Democratic Party awards one scholarship available to any graduating senior residing in Oceana County who plans to seek further training beyond high school. “The Oceana County Democratic Party values community involvement throughout a lifetime,” states a press…

Read more »

A labor of love

June 4, 2025

Spitler Elementary School celebrates upgraded Pirates’ Paradise playground Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press. By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — It has been a project two years in the making, involving parents, school staff, students, community members and charitable organizations, and it is finally complete. The new and improved Pirates’…

Read more »