FISHERS, Ind. — "This, right here right now, is how teachers are being disrespected," said one man at Wednesday night's Hamilton Southeastern Schools board meeting.
He was referencing a new proposal from the district to build a charter school with an emphasis on career and technical education, or CTE.
HSE already offers several CTE programs, like welding and music production.
Director of K-12 Initiatives Steve Loser, however, said the district can offer more.
"We have a philanthropic funder at the table right now willing to partner," said Loser.
The proposal comes from an out-of-state company called Opportunity Education. The plan outlines the construction of Fishers Prep Public Charter Innovation Network School.
Opportunity Education would staff the charter school, which is designed to serve high school students interested in CTE.
"Really the offer would mean we could accelerate that growth and provide those opportunities sooner," said Loser.
On Wednesday night, some HSE teachers and parents didn't see it that way.
One man said, "I'm very concerned that this plan to give our public funding to a charter school will come at the expense of our public schools, making it harder to recruit and retain the best teachers with competition salaries, harder to get them the resources that they need to be successful, harder to maintain classroom ratios, and harder to retain HSE status as one of the Indiana's top public school districts."
"Please take these responsibilities seriously and support our existing, excellent public schools," a woman added.
Loser said another priority of the proposal is to target Hamilton County students who are not currently enrolled at HSE schools.
According to Loser, the county saw 2,002 eligible students enrolled in a non-HSE school last year.
Now, Loser said HSE's per-pupil funding from the state is $6,838.41. If the charter school enrolled 500 students, he said, that totals well over $3 million.
"The exchange for that is upfront capital to build out these facilities and programs and to build them sooner for our students," said Loser.
The funding concerns were addressed during Wednesday's meeting.
"The superintendent and the board keep in stating, 'Our district is so broke. We can't pay for the teachers,' one of them being my wife. Why are you trying to extend us even more?" one man said.
"The fund that we bargain teachers' salaries out of, the fund that pays our instructional aides, the fund that stocks our libraries, buys classroom supplies, and pays our buildings' principals," said a woman.
Conversations with Opportunity Education started in late July 2024, according to Loser.
"That initial vision has evolved over time, specifically as we've gotten community input," he said. "I welcome that dialogue and that communication every single day."
Loser shared with the school board on Wednesday that he understands the hesitations and questions from the public. He said charter schools, although not considered private schools, are often seen as competition to public schools.
"I don't really blame people who have that concern," said Loser. "There are just some charter school horror stories within the state of Indiana. I think educational change is very challenging."
The proposal heads back to the HSE school board on Dec. 11 for a final vote.
Loser said feedback is still welcomed and can be submitted online.
"We are going to build those programs regardless," said Loser. "That's where we are headed. That's part of our strategic plan and vision."