Four new school board members took the oath of office Wednesday night at the first board session with the newly-elected members – Dawn Lang, Juanita Albright, Tiffany Pascoe and Ben Orr. Dawn Lang was elected board president, but the vote was not unanimous. Two holdover board members, Sarah Donsbach and Sarah Parks-Reese, voted no on the slate of officers. Juanita Albright will serve as vice president and Tiffany Pascoe as board secretary.
In other items before the board:
–A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the J. Everett Light Center at North Central High School in Marion County was unanimously approved, after assurances students caught in the transition from J. Everett Light and the new Pursuit Institute would be treated fairly.
–The board voted unanimously to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) for legal services. Board member Ben Orr said this is just a business practice the new board is doing. Church, Church, Hittle and Antrim (CCHA) has provided legal services for HSE Schools as far back as 30 years, according to Orr, and added this action is no reflection on the work CCHA has provided HSE Schools in the past. CCHA is being invited to submit a proposal.
I am really concerned about these new school board members. We have to stand with our students to defend them from possible harm. Take notice of what will transpire ove the next year. Speak up when you disagree and educate others on what is happening.