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Dear Editor:
I wanted to attempt to bring public commentary back to the relevant discussion about Student Handbooks for a 21,000 student, 2,200 teacher public school district in Fishers & Noblesville, Indiana.
My name is Suzanne Thomas and I’m an elected HSE School Board Trustee. But my comments here are my own and do not represent the HSE School Board or Administration.
For a course correction on Student Handbook discussion, I have to first comment about The Indianapolis Star. Where did they even find a picture of me in a mask? I’m a very public and social person so there are a gazillion pictures of me without a mask. Why that picture? The Indianapolis Star’s most recent article about HSE’s Student Handbook revisions and local TV news reporting is ridiculous. Yes, we want students to wear underwear. The points of the article and the live news reporting from local stations are so off-base that I was honestly laughing as I read and listened to them.
Unfortunately, The Indianapolis Star’s quality of journalism has declined to a level that they absolutely misrepresent the issue, HSE Schools, and me.
Just an FYI: HSE’s Student Handbook is discussed annually for revisions, removals, and adds. There is a process, and the final step is board approval. Board Members have a right to not approve what is presented and make suggestions for revisions. That IS our role, to provide oversight. We followed the process and had several work sessions and board meetings that allowed public comments. After 2.5 years on the board and over seven years of substitute teaching, I researched TWELVE district handbooks from Indianapolis area schools. NONE of the “examples for discussion” in the meetings were written by me, all input was extracted from a surrounding school district, legal and board approved handbook including:
- Brownsburg
- Carmel
- Avon
- Noblesville
- Westfield
- Zionsville
- Vernon
- Lawrence
- Franklin
- Sheridan
- Hamilton Heights
- Greenfield
- HSE
Each was written differently, but many had similar language. What I found was some had language that provided better clarity in structure and guardrails, specifically for code of conduct and dress code. While the HSE Administration does say they feel our broad, non-specific language works for them, I know there are many employees who feel otherwise.
After speaking to neighboring district administrators AND Board Members, they found with better language, BOTH academics AND character performance improved. To me, that was very positive information and needed to be considered to improve HSE Schools.
I’m a full-figured woman. So, I know first-hand a cleavage can be seen and difficult to completely hide. I’m very aware of the difference between plunging neckline and just an “average shirt.” Let’s give your students and teachers some credit for knowing the obvious and having common sense, too! They KNOW what’s appropriate and what is not.
Mentioning slips is not an attempt to go back to Little House on the Prairie. It’s to point out all the see-through garments that junior high and high school students are wearing. As we each have our own opinion, I feel confident that no one would want their child/teen to wear see-through clothing in school. I’m not mentioning slips just for the sake of wearing a slip. No not all attire would require one, but if your skirt or dress is see-through, wear a slip or undergarment! Other Indianapolis-area school districts have this in approved language written into their student handbooks. So, it was brought up for discussion during our public work session.
Again, this is an annual discussion at HSE Schools. We discuss student handbook changes openly, back-and-forth with Board Members, community members, and HSE Administration. But what I have researched and concluded is that the classroom environment needs to be geared around the “optimal learning environment.” When the educator and educational content is freer from distractions, our students will have the best opportunity to learn. Our students perform better and have less discipline problems. And that’s everyone’s goal. Right?
The Indy Star writes for clicks and attention like many news sources. While most of what they said is true, I’d like to help make parents more aware of how students in school are really pushing boundaries on dress and behavior. Some students know that broad, non-specific rules in the student handbook allow them to push the boundaries. Many teachers and staff are frustrated by the lack of support with some guardrails or boundaries that they can refer to in HSE’s Student Handbook for a reference in communicating with parents/guardians.
It would be great if we parents/guardians supported schools by encouraging our students (boys and girls) to dress for success. We all know kids/teens leave the house one way and when in school, may look another.
Dress and appearance is technically up to parents and students. But our job as board members and administrators is to provide policy and procedures for ALL that ALL have a safe, distraction-free environment, conducive to learning. Within those guidelines your students can wear what they want.
In addition to dress, another issue is code of conduct and discipline in HSE’s Student Handbook. The handbook is a resource for all students, parents, and teachers. If it is written in the handbook, then it supports the teacher’s ability to reference it in a specific section and point it out to parent’s and guardian’s attention. If it’s written in the handbook then it’s not subjective and open to a debate between a teacher, a student or parent.
The bigger issue is teachers’ ability to enforce the rules in the handbook. HSE’s teachers need to feel supported by administration and parents. We Board Members ARE listening to the community and our stakeholders. Neighboring school district handbooks specifically highlight problems so that parents and students know there are major areas of concern, like restrooms. Clarity on restrooms: no one ever should be restricted from using the restroom. The only reason it is pointed out as a concern is many students are afraid to use restrooms because of the poor behavior and conduct happening in them. Being mindful to overuse could be helpful to limiting poor conduct, so students who actually need the restroom can safely use the restroom.
HSE’s Administration has done a great job listening to teachers, board members, and stakeholders and made some very good adjustments to the handbook that were presented in Wednesday evening’s meeting. I am proud of the approved 2023-2024 Student Handbook that was presented and approved by HSE Schools.
If you have concerns, I welcome your respectable comments through email or phone. If what was approved Wednesday still needs work, then we will address revisions. Again, every school year, HSE’s Handbook Committee meets over many months, continually discussing revisions, repeals, and adds.
People in the media and press can create false narratives to sell their stories. But I stand behind supporting all students to receive excellence in education in a distraction-free environment, supporting our teachers, and providing parent awareness and involvement. I do not apologize for doing my due diligence in researching and asking questions. HSE Schools is a very big, complex corporation that we all need to understand better.
There are seven HSE Board Members. I’m one vote that represents over 17,000 stakeholders/voters who elected me to this position, along with all other community members who did not. And I try to listen to YOU all. We all have our own “postage stamp” that is the place where we call home and the place we want to live our life our way, and I respect that. But as a Board Trustee, I am responsible for over 21,000 students and their families, whether they support me or not. We ALL need to understand that school is for academics, learning, education and building character, respect, and confidence. That is how I make every decision when I vote. Even with the rules and guardrails, HSE Schools really is a fun and exceptional learning environment.
School is not a forum or platform for social media influencers who distract from everyone else’s learning environment. That is for after-school hours in social gatherings on your own time.
My hope is we work together to provide a distraction-free, safe environment where all our students receive a stellar education, so that all our children can be productive, successful, happy and function in life after high school. Honor, Scholarship, Excellence … THAT’s HSE.
Thanks to all for your overwhelming support.
Suzanne Thomas
HSE Board Member
sthomas@hse.k12.in.us
(317) 410-9159