Among the 6 school districts in Hamilton County, 5 have already signed-on to a new Career Technical Education (CTE) initiative, the Pursuit Institute. The last remaining school corporation to make a decision on joining Pursuit is the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools.
The HSE School Board held a Tuesday late afternoon work session to discuss the Pursuit proposal before the board votes on joining Pursuit at the next regular session Wednesday night. Near the end of the work session, there was a direct exchange between HSE Board member Suzanne Thomas and Superintendent Yvonne Stokes.
Ms. Thomas was asking specific questions about the proposed contract between HSE Schools and Pursuit. The system calls for the 6 county school superintendents to make decisions on how the Pursuit Institute will operate.
“We haven’t seen a Hamilton Southeastern, I’m sorry to say this, admin (administration) presentation that gives out the pros and cons and the benefits,” Thomas said.
“I take offense to that, and I’m going to tell you why,” Dr. Stokes replied. “You keep on trying to tell us how we need to do this and you’re wrong.” The superintendent pointed to a recent meeting with Pursuit Institute Executive Director Carrie Lively where she explained how the Institute would work, and no HSE School Board member asked any questions.
The Pursuit Institute was started by a one-time grant from Hamilton County Commissioners and the County Council to develop a CTE program for all school districts in the county.
“It’s real difficult for us (HSE administrators) to be boots on the ground and be a part of what Pursuit is doing when our board hasn’t said that they’re interested in us being a part,” Dr. Stokes said. “So, I can’t handicap the rest of the county because we don’t know what we’re doing.”
During the work session, Board Members Brad Boyer and Michelle Fullhart, as well as Ms. Thomas, had questions about how the Pursuit Institute would be funded and Carrie Lively explained the intricacies of how that funding formula would work.
Some HSE District students attend programs at North Central High School’s J. Everett Light Center and HSE Schools pay Washington Township per student for that program. HSE Schools Chief Financial Officer Katy Dowling added there are instances when HSE District students cannot enroll in a particular J. Everett Light program because there is no room for them.
Ms. Fullhart expressed concern about students selecting classes and Assistant HSE Superintendent Matt Kegley said if a decision is not made soon, this cannot be completed by December.
Ms Thomas expressed concern about how 6 superintendents can make decisions, because it is an even number and the group could be deadlocked. School Board Attorney David Day replied that this system is used for many joint programs, including special education.
“It’s based, in part, on the notion that people of good will get together and make good decisions for kids,” Day said. According to Day, based on his 45 years of experience, he has never seen a piece of litigation over an agreement like the one proposed with Pursuit Institute.
Day also explained the provisions in the agreement allowing a school district to withdraw from the pact, which can be done with the proper advance notice.
The HSE School Board is scheduled to decide whether to go it alone on CTE programs, or join the Pursuit Institute, at Wednesday night’s regular board meeting, starting at 7pm.