The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) school district is the 4th largest in the state in terms of student population. That means our school system receives a lot of attention state-wide. HSE is also the largest Indiana suburban school system. Again, based on student population, Fort Wayne is the largest, followed by IPS, Evansville…..then HSE.
The reason that fact is important centers on what I want to get across in this commentary – people around Indiana and possibly outside our state are watching our school board election and the tenor of the debate among the citizenry within the HSE School District.
I will not address the school board election in this piece, but I do wish to warn everyone in Fishers and the HSE School boundaries (the HSE boundary takes-in more than the city of Fishers) that we all need to take a deep breath and think….think for more than a few seconds…about the social media post you are about to send.
Look, I am not arguing that everyone commenting on HSE Schools are part of the problem…most comments I see about our schools are no problem at all. But we must think about how we can have a civil argument…..disagreeing without being disagreeable.
I am not going to share specific examples of what is going wrong about our local school debate because doing so would just provide a megaphone to those that are not engaging in this discussion in what I would consider the right way.
I always start with this simple precept – everyone with students in the HSE Schools wants the absolute best for their children. I moved here in 1991 and several years later my twin daughters entered kindergarten at Harrison Parkway, Middle School at Sand Creek, went to Fishers Junior High and spent four years at Fishers High School. My daughters received a top-shelf education at HSE Schools which prepared them well for college and they are both college graduates.
My wife and I saw up close and personal how HSE Schools work. As you might guess, all was not perfect all the time, but for the most part, my wife Jane and I are were impressed by the teachers and staff at all those schools (Jane is not an easy person to impress).
My family had that outstanding experience with our local schools at a time when the student population was growing every year. It is a little like adding-on to an airplane while still in flight. Somehow the teachers and administrators continued their high-quality work despite the challenge of rapid growth.
The key to continuing the high quality is recruiting and retaining the best teachers and administrators. That is a big reason I am writing this post at this specific time.
HSE is not at the top of the teacher pay scale in our geographical area. But local leaders have always told me we do not want to be at the bottom of the compensation list, but if HSE can stay in the middle, the quality of our community can be the main driver for staff.
Here is my point. Some social media posts locally have been savagely attacking school staff, administrators and board members. I understand what it means to be a public employee, I was one for 28 years and understand that public criticism is part of the game.
But when allegations are made that are just not true, or amount to personal attacks, that is when we are all impacted. Suddenly, that draw of a quality community is dented by the vitriol that comes across when teachers are attacked. There is no good reason for this.
I know a number of teachers in the HSE Schools and they all, to a person, tell me the pandemic has resulted in a work load far beyond anything ever seen before. The teaching staff all care about their students and are trying their best under the worst circumstances they have ever seen. Attacking these people will not help, but it can hurt.
Teachers are highly-educated professionals. They either have their Master’s Degrees (or higher) or are working on an advanced degree as they work. There is a teacher shortage in Indiana that has been documented by media outlets and our major universities that are seeing far fewer education students entering that field of study.
Teachers can go to another school district if they feel under attack here. And, many have lucrative private-sector options if the decision is made to leave teaching.
I am not saying teachers should be shielded from all criticism but be constructive if you believe a change is needed. Anytime Jane and I offered such feedback to a teacher, we had a good, constructive conversation.
This pandemic has not been easy for our local school administrators. They are dealing with a situation like nothing experienced by them before. These leaders face the challenge of providing school virtually, in the classroom and combinations of both. Keeping students and staff safe in the middle of a major pandemic is a high priority. One can suggest other options without savagely attacking these people.
I understand the school board is elected and some say that makes them fair game. I started covering the HSE School Board in 2012 and have either attended or watched meetings online for about 8 years. There may be a few exceptions here and there, but what I have mostly experienced are school board members that may not always agree, but always put the students first and work to take care of the district staff as best they can. With some of the budget problems I witnessed in my early years of covering the board, this was not always easy to accomplish.
I recently wrote a story about HSE School Board President Michelle Fullhart’s recent Facebook post which she described as a “rant” about the tenor of debate among the residents of the HSE School District. Michelle just posted a Facebook message that she was surprised I wrote a story about that. Michelle, you are the president of the board and your comments on a subject like that carries a great deal of weight. If you choose to make such comments, it will get the attention of the news media.
When HSE School District voters overwhelmingly approved an operating referendum, an open house was scheduled for those interested in applying for the many new teaching positions about to open. The turnout was massive. It was difficult to speak with everyone and several school officials stayed late to talk with everyone. Teachers wanted to come and work for HSE Schools.
When I went back and thought about that night in May of 2016 when teachers flocked to that open house, I wondered – would that happen today? I would hope the answer would be yes. But that is why we should all take that deep breath and think before we write. When teachers come under unfair attack by parents, even a fairly small number compared to all in the school system, it hurts the reputation of our community’s attitude toward those teaching our children.
If you have an issue with the local schools and are about to post, just think about a few things…..Do I truly understand the issue? Are my facts correct? How will this impact all that I am writing about?
I want to be clear that I welcome a robust debate about issues surrounding our schools, but how we conduct that debate is as important, maybe more important, than winning the debate. I was on the debate team in college. You had to have verifiable facts to win, and you could be marked down for personally attacking the opposing team.
All I ask is that you give deep thought to any messages posted on social media. They can take on a life of their own once posted. Think about your children, their classmates and friends and your own friends in the HSE Schools community. We want the best teachers and administrators to be drawn to this district….let’s work at not driving them away.
I don’t follow social media closely, but one thing I hear consistently from other sources is that people complain that the teachers “just don’t want to work”, or “want it easy”. The reality is that this is very hard for teachers, even putting aside the community pressure from a vocal, rude minority. But more than that, there are serious questions of fairness; i.e. the teachers don’t want to be abused, any more than you or I would want to be by our employers.
Teachers are leaving the profession, or taking medical leave if it is possible for them. Substitute teachers are not taking assignments. Why are these things happening? They are being asked to do more with an all time low of resources, tangible and intangible, beyond the point where they are being taken advantage of. Larry mentions the referendum that was supposed to reduce class sizes across the direct. The result was uneven at best, with some schools seeing no benefit or even class size increases. One of the schools attended by his daughters was the latter case. But other promises have been made with mixed results, too, and some buildings were favored more than others. All of this was compounded by many sorts of budget and program cuts. The result is years – no, decades – of increasing mistrust in the administration by the licensed staff. Not a good foundation on which to build a pandemic response in weeks or months. And in the past eight weeks, they’ve squandered what little goodwill they had left.
An earlier post on LarryInFishers mentioned the substitute teacher shortage. I also understand that it was downplayed by the administration as “not a serious problem” at that same meeting. There are fewer subs to fill more gaps than in the past, on top of there there already being a shortage. Basic supply and demand would contradict the “all is fine” and suggest there is a desperate scramble below the surface.
Another method to staff classrooms is having other teachers in the building volunteering to give up their planning periods, a technique called “class coverages”. Teachers made ~$20/period, paid at the end of the year, to cover a class, something that addressed the substitute shortage with highly experienced staff. Note that the missed planning time was still needed, just covered on the teachers’ own time. But now we come to that pandemic response, and apparently an 85-minute period is the same as a 45 minute period: twenty bucks. Obviously, there are no teachers volunteering for class coverages these days. The reports I have heard are that the shortage for staff to cover classrooms is now so bad that administrators are being deployed from the central office to be a warm body in classrooms without teachers. That sounds like a problem to me: not effective for students, and not a wise use of very highly paid administrators time.
If you are a parent in HSE concerned about what education your children are receiving during these trying times, here is how you fix it.
1. Give the teachers the benefit of the doubt. Realize they went into teaching, not because it was lucrative (hah!), but because they loved it, and enjoy improving young minds. They want your kids to get a wonderful education. They are sticking with it as best they can. But push much harder, and classes will have to be cancelled when buildings can no longer be staffed adequately. No, this is not hyperbole.
2. Encourage the school board to take building cleaning seriously. I assure you, the results of the “deep cleaning” in individual classrooms are atrocious, and the availability of cleaning supplies and PPE is almost nil. Many years of budget cutbacks and low-bidder contracts have destroyed any innate capacity for HSE to do this properly. If teachers are hesitant to engage they way you might like, it’s probably because of fears for basic health and safety. The cost of this cleaning needs to be weighed against the eventual tidal wave of lawsuits from illnesses and deaths (student, staff, and community). Beyond the lower opportunity cost, it makes operational sense as well.
3. Not every teacher is requesting a leave or retiring. But the unprofessional way the administration is treating those that are really strikes at overall morale. The process has become so painful and punitive that the staff can only interpret that they are expendable to the administration. So expect nobody to go the extra mile, since it will be a) unappreciated and b) expected to be abused in the future. If you are a parent in HSE, ask for the numbers: how many have left, how many on leave, how many unstaffed classrooms in your building(s). Ask often, and let them know you are paying attention.
4. The district needs to be much more transparent about how many students and staff are in quarantine or isolation. An inconsistent update by school nurses on a WEEKLY basis is not sufficient. These figures need to be updated daily, so parents can make informed decisions. I’m aware of surges among the student population in several buildings, and I’m generally focused on two (the only way to stay sane). In an information vacuum, it’s easy enough to dismiss the occasional anecdote that slips through. I think the community would be alarmed if they had the full picture in real time. And when the masks come off, it will quickly spiral out of control.
5. A major factor in teacher workload is balancing 100% on-site students (not just teacher kids, but also special education, ED, and at this point, pretty much any parent that complains loud enough), 100% virtual students, and those that have engaged with the 50/50 plan. Each requires a different approach, and expecting one person to constantly do all three is … not a recipe for success. Other nearby districts had dedicated teachers for dedicated all-virtual teams, and avoided the worst of the situation we now live through in HSE. This is the biggest concern for many teachers (q.v. the recent survey of elementary school teachers), since it is the approach most alien to the “normal” school day. You need to encourage the administration to adopt this, and yesterday is not soon enough.
6. Keep it constructive. Complaining/whining does no good. If you have feedback, don’t make it a complaint. Make it a suggestion: something that you think would help, something actionable, something tangible. If all you can do is describe what you don’t like, just step back from the keyboard or keep your teeth together. Let the people who are trying to move the ball forward do that, uninterrupted.
There is a difference between being loud and being heard. Ensure your social media posts are the latter by being constructive, civil, and taking some time to consider things from the opposing viewpoint. Whether the country as a whole or our local community, nobody is going to blame their way out of this disease. Work together, or quietly stand aside while the rest of us do.
Extremely well stated!
Larry, thanks for attempting to foster a better relationship between the select parents that wish to be heard and our school system. You are right. People are watching. What troubles me is that in any situation when do the bad actors win? How come more often than not, just because someone is the loudest voice in the room does that mean they have the strongest argument? The people you speak of have yet to meet their captive audience. Silently, we prefer to watch them squirm with dignity. Something devoid from their own devices. There are people (3) with personal objectives playing right into the hand of these weak minded individuals as well. To the point it could become influential over our community, again with personal agenda working to un-do the great work that is already being done(that has already been paid for). So yes, the consequences could have lasting effects in our community.
I agree with this 100%! It is unfortunate that the loud FB group that thinks they speak for the majority of HSE parents will not clearly understand the intention of your article. They will perceive it as yet another attack and continue their hate filled rants. You are likely the newest target of their misguided anger.
Larry – thank you for your perspective and I certainly understand your concerns. I’m pretty certain most of the social media ‘attacks’ you may be concerned about are from one specific Facebook GROUP of parents advocating for our children to return to school full time. Admins have chosen to leave the group ‘public’ but I honestly don’t think some realize everyone can still see what they post there… and as a result there are some rants that happen because parents are exhausted, frustrated, and have felt like no one is listening. The president of the board chose to comment in the group early in it’s creation and to share screenshots of a private conversation she had with another parent – so not sure what kind of response she expected. This group has also spent time really diving into exactly who and what is still keeping our kids out of school (at this point covid stats and safety concerns are just frankly not valid reasons!) Poor leadership of the superintendent and school board have been discussed at length and after watching several school board meetings for the very first time I feel it’s justified. We also recognize that Fadness and the newly created Fishers Health Dept have played a role. Overall there is A LOT of support for teachers – no one is blaming the teachers and many are going out of their way to support them. They have been put in an impossible situation and the majority understand and recognize that. There have even been many parents from that group applying for sub positions or offering to purchase additional supplies, etc. And yes you are right… people are watching HSE schools who in past years have set the precedent for excellence. They had from March-Aug to plan and prepare for what was undoubtedly going to be a challenging school year.. to work with other districts and really stand out as leaders – and they simply didn’t do it. They basically said publicly that ‘they would be the smart ones’ keeping kids out of school. Clearly that has not been the case. Parents are disappointed, confused, and frankly out of patience. Sadly the only way to move things forward for our kids (many who are falling behind and really struggling on the mental health side) has been to be LOUD. No it’s not always ideal or desired or patient or pleasant… and it may be upsetting or even offensive to some. But this is about what’s best for our children and putting their needs first. Someone has to.
COVID stats and safety concerns are not a valid reason? By default, the second is ALWAYS a reason to have the kids out of school. And COVID *is* a safety issue.
I’m not sure how a disease that is killing thousands is political. I don’t want my children killed or disabled by it, nor do I want yours killed or disabled by it. But you’re OK with it if they are? It’s really that simple from my view.
Is convenience more important than health? Or is the “send them back” argument congruent with “it’s a hoax”? Do you really think that everything will go back to normal if the schools force 100% in-person? Or will so many teachers and students back out (e.g. go all-virtual for students) that we just have a new, messed-up situation?
My kids are back to varying degrees. Those that are 50/50 in HSE know that we’ll support them if they don’t feel safe and want to go virtual. And if 100% in-person is forced on us, we’ll probably take whatever all-virtual option remains.
On a side note, the rate of new cases in Indiana is steady vs. previous weeks. But holding steady in a bad situation is not where we want to be. And positive rates on new tests are well above average for the country. Indiana is not headed in the right direction – the course ahead should be defined by caution, IMO.
Thanks for your take on the situation. The bottom line is that the HSE district administration (NOT the teachers) had several months to sort through a plan and they didn’t. Parents who choose to have their kids in grades 5-12 back in the classroom before fall break (nevermind they should have already gone back…) aren’t getting that option because nothing has been done. Dr. Bourff didn’t plan…I’m not quite sure what he’s been doing. They have done nothing and students, parents, teachers, etc. are ALL suffering.
I have never understood why teachers that took leave and want to teach virtual can’t? As my daughter stated grades 7-12 do not carry all the same teachers throughout the year and that is what I have heard as being the excuse ( could be wrong)! I have sent an email to Michelle Fullhart asking her this question as one of my daughters teachers was in tears trying to ensure her virtual kids are getting what they need.
My other concern is the hatred and aggressiveness some of the speakers and a nameless board member show in regards to putting every child back in the building at 100%. I wish I could ask these people if their employer has them ( if thousands) back In their buildings all at once? I wish my daughter was getting her full high school experience but not at the expense of health.