Press Release: Concerns Emerge Over Technology Policy Change at HSE Schools
HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN, IN — A recent update to the student handbooks at Hamilton Southeastern Schools has caused frustration among some parents. The update removed an option allowing parents of kindergarten and elementary students to opt-out of classroom instruction involving electronic tablets. The HSE Board of Trustees unanimously approved the revisions on June 11 but instructed district administrators to further examine the technology opt-out policy.
During the public comment session, parents voiced their concerns over the removal of this clause. Erin Domokos, whose son begins kindergarten in the fall, expressed her disappointment, stating that she chose HSE partly because of the previous opt-out provision. “It feels like a bait-and-switch,” she said, emphasizing her family’s preference for hands-on learning over app-based instruction.
Director of Student Services Christi Thomas explained that the change aligns the handbook with a technology policy that has been in place since 2016, noting that the opt-out clause had been an outdated remnant. “We haven’t had an opt-out policy since 2016,” she clarified, referencing a form dating back to 2012.
In response to parent concerns, Superintendent Patrick Mapes was tasked with reviewing the opt-out policy for further consideration by the policy committee, a process expected to take a couple of months.
The board also approved a three-year Innovate 2028 action plan aimed at improving academic, fiscal, and communication goals within the district. The next HSE Board of Trustees meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on July 9 at 13485 Cumberland Road.
As the discussion unfolds, the district seeks to balance technological integration with parental preferences and educational philosophies.
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