The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board will wait at least a few more weeks before taking action on a proposed policy governing board members’ access to district meetings held outside regular sessions.
At a Wednesday morning meeting of the board’s Policy Committee, interim Superintendent Matt Kegley said written guidance from the Indiana Public Access Counselor has not yet been received by the district’s legal counsel, Barnes & Thornburg. That guidance is considered key to resolving outstanding legal questions tied to the proposal.
As a result, a board decision on the policy—originally expected in April—will now be delayed until at least May.
The issue centers on whether allowing the board president to appoint individual board members to attend certain district meetings, including collective bargaining sessions, could create legal concerns under Indiana’s Open Door Law. Specifically, attorneys are seeking clarification on whether the presence of appointed board members could effectively turn those meetings into official public gatherings, potentially requiring they be open to the public.
The policy proposal has drawn interest from the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, which has expressed support for the Policy Committee’s recommended language. However, the union continues to oppose holding contract bargaining sessions in public, noting that such negotiations are typically conducted privately under state law.
The school board previously delayed action on the policy while awaiting direction from the Public Access Counselor. Without that written opinion in hand, district officials say the board will continue to hold off on any final decision.
In the meantime, the proposed policy would allow board members to attend certain district meetings as silent observers, with the ability to take notes and share information with fellow board members only in ways permitted by state law.
Until formal guidance is received, the timeline for final action remains uncertain, but board members now expect the issue will not return for a vote before May at the earliest.