[1. Meeting Opening] [00:00:08] ORDER. LET'S STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. >> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [2. Information Items] HEARING. THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TONIGHT'S PUBLIC HEARING. AS YOU LIKELY KNOW OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS THE HSC SPORT OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES HAS BEEN FOCUSED ON IDENTIFYING THE APPROPRIATE NEXT STEPS TO UP LIFT OUR STUDENTS, POST OUR STAFF AND IMPROVE OUR DISTRICT. A LARGE PART OF THIS HAS BEEN IDENTIFYING THE BEST LEADER FOR HSC. IN THE SPIRIT OF CONTINUED COLLABORATION AND ADHERENCE TO LEGAL GUIDELINES TONIGHT'S MEETING WILL SERVE AS AN OPPOSTANDARD VALUABLE STEP IN THAT PROCESS AND WE WELCOME YOUR OPEN AND HONEST INPUT. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS WE WILL BE HOLDING A SERIES OF SPECIAL BOARD MEETINGS AND SHARE MORE ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS IN THIS PROCESS. PLEASE REST ASSURED WE CONTINUE TO BE COMMITTED TO BEING TRANSPARENT AS WE PROCEED. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS THRILLED FOR WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING MORE INFORMATION OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS. BEFORE WE OPEN THIS PUBLIC HEARING I WANT TO REPEAT THAT THE PURPOSE OF TONIGHT'S CONVENING IS TO GATHER SPECIFIC FEEDBACK, SPECIFIC TO THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT. WE RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT ALL COMMENTS PROVIDED DURING THIS TIME BE RELATED TO THAT FOCUS. THERE WILL BE MORE OPPORTUNITIES OVER THE NEXT WEEK TO SHARE COMMENTS RELATED TO OTHER ASPECTS OF THIS PROCESS. PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE OUR OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM YOU. THE BOARD WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY DISCUSSION TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HIGHLY VALUED PARTICIPATION AND INPUT. I WILL NOW OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. ANY MEMBER WHO SIGNED UP ACCORDING TO THE BOARD POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MAY ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING THE PROPOSED CONTRACT. WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE SIGNED UP. I WILL CALL THE FIRST NAME AND ALSO IDENTITY THE SECOND NAME SO YOU CAN BE PREPARED. HAVE YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK AND JUST COME TO THE FORWARD AS YOUR NAME IS CALENDAR. SHANNON FIELDS AND SECOND WILL BE DENISE RAFUSE. >> HCH SERVES A COMMUNITY THAT IS 35S NATURE AND SUPPORTIVE OF OUR SCHOOLS. IT IS ALSO A DISTRICT THAT HAS BEEN UNDER SOME STRESS IN RECENT YEARS. FROM PREVIOUS BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION ORDERING AN EXTENDED COVID SHUT DOWN IN WHICH MANY STUDENTS WERE SHUT OUT OF FULL TIME INSTRUCTION TO AN INCREASE OR AT LEAST INCREASE IN OUR AWARENESS OF POLITICAL ACT VICTIM IN THE CLASSROOMS. AS THE BOARD SELECTS A NEW SUPERINTENDENT YOU HOPE YOU HAVE FOUND A CANDIDATE WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD RAN AND WAS ELECTED. FIRST IS BEING TRANSPARENT. PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE THE RIGHT TO LEARN WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM. IN RESPONSE TO SEVERAL SITUATIONS WHERE PARENTS HAVE RAISED FLAGS ABOUT CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND MATERIALS, THE INDIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL ESTABLISHED A PORTAL FOR PARENTS TO SHARE MATERIALS HIDDEN FROM PARENTAL VIEW AND WOULD NOT STAND UP TO SCRUTINQ AS BEING APPROPRIATE FOR THE CLASSROOM. I WAS SURPRISED BY THE REACTION OF THE HSCA WHO MADE A POSTON SOCIAL MEDIA CRITICIZING THE PORTAL. WHY WOULD IT BE A PROBLEM IF EVERYTHING IS APPROPRIATE? WE NEED ALL STAKE HOLDERS TO. >> WE NEED TO KEEP IT TO THE CONTRACT PLEASE. >> OKAY. OKAY. BASICALLY KEEPING POLITICS OUT OF SCHOOLS, CIVICS ARE FINE. THE DISTRICT HAD TO CANCEL CLASSES AND SHUT THE SCHOOL FOR DAYS SEVERAL YEARS BACK DUE TO LACK OF STAFFING AND HIGH SCHOOL STAFF ATTENDING A RALLY AT THE STATE HOUSE. THIS WAS A DISSERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. HSC NEEDS TO BUILD A CULTURE WHERE STAFF WOULD NOT THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE TO PUT THE PERSONAL POLITICAL POSITIONS ON DISPLAY TO STUDENTS. IT IS NOT THE DISTRICT'S JOB OR ANY TEACHERS TO CREATE PERSONAL POLITICAL ACTIVISTS BUT RATHER TO CREATE INFORMED CITIZENS THROUGH A ADVANTAGE ACADEMIC FOUNDATION AND FOSTERING AN ATTITUDE OF LIFELONG LEARNING. AVOID MISSION CREEP. OUR CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE A POSITIVE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE. THE HSC COMMUNITY HAS AMONG THE HIGHEST EDUCATION, HIGHEST INCOME LEVEL IN THE STATE WHICH BY ALL STUDIES SHOULD RESULT IN A HIGH PREFORMING STUDENT BODY AND THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICTS IN OUR TEACHER'S FINANCIALLY BUT THE EXPECTATION IS THAT THE FUNDING GOES TO EDUCATION. FUNDING BECOMES THIN WHEN SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF THE LATEST AND GREATEST FADS IN EDUCATION WHICH MAY [00:05:02] MAKE THE STAKE HOLDERS FEEL GOOD BUT FOR WHICH THERE IS A LITTLE OF INCREASED STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT. PLEASE KEEP EDUCATION, JOB ONE AND STAY FOCUSED ON THE TASK. >> HI. MY NAME IS DENISE. I HAVE A 3RD GRADER. IT HAS BEEN SOME TIME SINCE I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ATTEND A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SINCE YOU GUYS DECIDED TO MOVE THE TIME UP TO 6:00 P.M. WHICH REALLY MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR WORKING PARENTS TO ATTEND. MY COMMENT IS NOT SPECIFIC TOWARD THE CONTRACT BUT IT IS MORE COMMENT TOWARD THE OVERALL PROCESS. EVER SINCE YOU DECIDED TO FIRE OUR PREVIOUS SUPERINTENDENT FOR. >> WE NEED TO. >> I UNDERSTAND. >> WE NEED TO STICK WITH COMMENTS ON THE CONTRACT, PLEASE. >> WILL BE HOSTILE TOWARD ANYTHING THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION. I DO HOPE AND BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL GIVE THE SUPERINTENDENT A FAIR CONTRACT. I DO BELIEVE -- FOR THAT PROCESS BUT I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS BEEN TRANSPARENT AND HASN'T FELT LIKE A TRANSPARENT PROCESS. >> THANK YOU. STEPHANIE HUNT. HAS BEEN A WHILE SINCE I HAVE BEEN AT A SCHOOL BOARD MEETING AS WELL AND SINCE I HAVE EXPRESSED MY FEELINGS OR -- SINCE I HAVE EXPRESSED MY FEELINGS ABOUT OUR SCHOOL KIDS AND OUR TRICK. WHILE I HAVE EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE WITH THE WAY THAT INDIVIDUALS WERE PICKED FOR -- BY OUR BOARD FOR A SUPERINTENDENT FORUM TONIGHT I AM GOING TO SAY I AM CAUTIONOUSLY OPTIMISTIC FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE FOUND A SUPERINTENDENT THAT WILL LOOK OUT FOR THE BEST INTEREST OF ALL STUDENTS. IT APPEARS THEY WILL SUPPORT AND RESPECT THE EDUCATORS IN OUR SCHOOLS WHILE ALSO REACHING OUT AND CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY. THEIR CONTRACT REFLECTS THE EXPERIENCE I BELIEVE THEY HAVE AND I TRUST THAT KATY WITHOUT QUESTION WHEN SHE SAYS OUR DISTRICT. >> WE NEED TO STICK TO COMMENTS ON THE CONTRACT. >> THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING. THE CONTRACT. >> THE SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT. >> YEAH. I WAS SAYING I BELIEVE THAT IT -- THAT -- WE CAN AFFORD IT. I WAS SAYING KATIE WOULD NOT PUT IT TOGETHER WITHOUT SAYING OUR DISTRICT CAN HANDLE EACH FINANCIAL PIECE OF THIS CONTRACT. OKAY. OKAY. AS MISS LANG SAID WE NEED TO CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD AND COLLABORATING TOGETHER AROUND COMMON GOALS SO WE CAN DO GREAT THINGS. I AM HOPEFUL MOST OF THE BOARD BELIEVES THOSE WORDS AND WILL CONTINUE OPERATING BY THEM IN THE COMING YEARS. I WON'T SAY THE REST BECAUSE I GUESS THAT DOESN'T APPLY SO THANKS. >> MICHELLE FULLHA RT. >> GET RID OF MY GUM. SORRY. THANK YOU ABOUT LETTING ME SPEAK ABOUT THE PROPOSED CONTRACT. I HOPE THAT'S BOARD WILL BE TOGETHER IN THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE PERSON YOU HAVE CHOSEN AS OUR LEADER AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE A UNANIMOUS VOTE WHENS CONTRACT IS UP. IT IS MY DESIRE THAT ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER TO WELCOME THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL BELIEFS OR FEELINGS ABOUT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. THEY DESERVE TO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THEIR LEADERSHIP ABILITIES WITHOUT INTERFERENCE FROM THOSE WHO MAY NOT HAVE AGREED WITH THE CHOICE. OUR COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT HSC WITH THE REFERENDUM PASSED THIS FALL. WHILE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THE NEW LEAD CERTIFY BEING PAID IS LARGER THAN ANY OTHER SUPERINTENDENT WE HAVE EMPLOYED I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS -- THIS IS THE PRICE WE PAY TO GET SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO WORK IN A TRICK AS LARGE AS OURS WITH THE MANY THINGS THAT COME WITH IT. I DON'T KNOW THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN HIRED BUT THEY MAY BE CLOSE TO RETIREMENT DUE TO THE CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT THAT IS BEING PAID INTO THEIR RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS ON TOP OF THEIR SALARY. I HOPE THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT HAS HAD A LOT OF CLASS RAM EXPERIENCE TO DRAW UPON WHEN MAKING DECISION THAT WILL AFFECT STAFF AND STUDENTS. IF THEY HAVE NOT HAD RECENT CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES I SUGGEST THAT THE BOARD STRONGLY ENCOURAGE A SUPERINTENDENT TO TAKE TIME TO NOT JUST VISIT OUR SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS BUT TO SPEND TIME AS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. THE DAILY NEED IS GREAT AND MANY SPOTS RESULTS IN STUDENTS BEING SPLIT AMONG OTHER CLASSING -- TO COVER STUDENTS WITH THEIR DUTIES BEING PUT ASIDE WHICH IS NOT GOOD FOR STUDENTS OR STAFF. SUBSTITUTING AND NOT VISITING SCHOOLS AND CLASSROOMS WILL SERVE ANOTHER PURPOSE OF GROUNDING OUR LEADER IN UNDERSTAND THE RULE TO DO WHAT IS BEST OR OUR STUDENTS. ADDING LANGUAGE REQUIRING SUBSTITUTE [00:10:05] TEACHING MOST LIKELY SOMETHING YOU WILL NOT DO AND I UNDERSTAND BUT I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM TO DO IT. I WOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE YOU TO SPEND TIME IN CLASSES AS A SUBSTITUTE. I FOUND IT WORTHWHILE DURING MY TIME DESPITE HAVING SERVED FOR YEARS. YOU WILL GET A TASTE OF THE DEMANDS OF THE JOB BUT WON'T SPEND THE TIME THAT THE HARD WORKING STAFF PUT IN AFTER HOURS, ON WEEKENDS AND THE SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER MONTHS THAT THEY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND. I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT IN THE FUTURE AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU. IF ANYONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD THEY ARE WELCOME TO DO SO AT THIS TIME. REGARDING THE CONTRACT. HEARING NONE, I AM NOW GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED TONIGHT. WE VALUE YOUR FEEDBACK AND THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.