Fishers has been my home for 28 years, and during that time I witnessed fights over a number of contentious local issues. The battle over the annexation of neighborhoods at Geist, the referendum that resulted in Fishers moving from a town to a city, the first mayoral election in 2014 with six candidates, and the school redistricting decisions – all resulted in controversy and debate among local residents. There are many others, but those come to mind immediately.
I have written on this blog many times about the local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board. For some reason, this board, even with some members moving in and out after election cycles, has had a propensity for making decisions that create damaging publicity for Fishers. (It should be noted that the HSE School District encompasses more than the City of Fishers, it also includes parts of Fall Creek and Delaware Townships not included in the city limits and all of neighboring Wayne Township)
What I witnessed at Wednesday night’s HSE board meeting left me with a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. Both the behavior of some board members and the behavior of some in the audience reminded me of other communities where I have lived, or covered as a reporter. I have seen social issues such as the one now before the HSE School Board tear communities apart. Once that happens, recovery can take a very long time, if the community recovers at all.
The school board has been wrestling with language in the school district’s nondiscrimination policy since September of 2015. At that time, the board had the following policy language before it:
“Hamilton Southeastern School Corporation…does not discriminate on the basis of a protected class including but not limited to race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability or sex (including sexual stereotype nonconformity), in the programs or activities which it operates or the employment therein or admission thereto. The School strictly adheres to all non-discrimination and anti-harassment laws and does not tolerate any such acts.”
Two HSE staff members spoke at that meeting, arguing that the proposed language was not strong enough. The board debated and sent the issue to the school district’s policy committee. It sat right there for years. This year, the policy issue returned and was once again sent back to the committee.
Finally, after much back and forth, the board had a proposal for nondiscrimination policy language. There were ten members of the public that spoke at last Wednesday’s board meeting, all but one favoring an amended version of the policy offered by School Board Member Julie Chambers that said the following:
“The school corporation does not discriminate in its educational or employment activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including transgender status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression), disability, age, religion, military status, ancestry or genetic information, nor on any basis prohibited by applicable federal or state laws.”
Chambers’ motion was rejected on a 4-3 vote. After one amendment to the original proposal, the board voted 4-3 to approve the following nondiscrimination policy language:
“The school corporation will not discriminate in its educational and employment activities on any basis prohibited by applicable federal or state laws.”
Many supporters of Chambers’ proposal point out that all school corporations are required to follow state and federal law anyway, so enacting this language really doesn’t make any statement from the board about nondiscrimination.
I have some very specific views on all this, but I choose not to articulate my opinions at this time, for the following reason…..we all need to undergo a simple exercise before the next HSE School Board meeting May 8th, when the policy will undergo a second and final vote. Everyone should seriously ponder the meaning of a very important word.
Listen.
That’s right, listen. This is a talent that seems like a lost art in this day and age when so many of us are anxious to express our views but do not take the time and effort to genuinely listen to those with another point of view. It is an exercise worth trying.
After watching a video recording by Frank Whelan, I believe there is some hope for this concept. Frank recorded, on his cell phone, the meeting held Saturday morning by HSEqual, a group organized to advocate for Julie Chambers’ nondiscrimination proposal.
After watching that group deliberate, I have hope that a listening process will begin. Board members have the same obligation to listen.
I believe people of good will can come together, listen to each other, and provide a decision that is best for our local school community.
My twin daughters are now 25 years of age, educated K-12 in HSE Schools, are college graduates, now married and contributing to their own communities. I have a stake in HSE Schools continuing its reputation as a top-tier school corporation, as a long-time member of this community.
That will not happen if we choose to tear ourselves apart over the nondiscrimination policy.
Let’s respectfully talk, then listen, and make the correct decision for our community. If we don’t get this right, everyone in our community will suffer.
