Put away your pitchforks: Hibbard's on the road north, and now things get really interesting.

In what must be the biggest open secret since Israel has nukes, Bruce Hibbard's golden parachute is set to deposit him in a school district far, far, far enough away.

Congratulations to the News and Tribune for breaking news that really is.

Wait just a galdurned minute. If Gahan wants to be superintendent, and superintendents must attend school board meetings ... HEY, WATCH FOR THAT ICEBERG!

Hibbard straps on his getaway parachute, Gahan annexes the school corporation -- wait, who's that OTHER guy?

Get ready to choose between Dear Leader and the Terminator.

It's possible to laugh out loud, but only with copious stashes of gin close by.

Hibbard may be leaving NA-FC schools, by Aprile Rickert (All Abbey Road on the River, All of the Time)

Superintendent eyes same role in Franklin Township schools

NEW ALBANY — The New Albany-Floyd County School Corp. may soon be in search of a new leader.

Current superintendent Bruce Hibbard, who's been at NA-FC for seven years, appears on the verge of being hired by the Franklin Township Community School Corp. at Indianapolis, where he would serve as superintendent.

Posted on the Franklin Township website this morning was a proposed contract with Hibbard, showing he would received a base salary of $180,000 on a contract beginning July 1. The Franklin school board is expected to vote on the contract June 13. A public hearing has been called for Monday, when the board will gather opinion on the contract and proposed hire.

A letter, from a parent to Dr. Hibbard.

Thanks to Kate Caufield for permitting me to reprint this letter, which originated as a Facebook posting. It is my understanding that she has submitted it to the News and Tribune. Let's hope it is published there.

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My letter to Dr. Hibbard, to his FB account:

Dr. Hibbard,

I realize that you're the superintendent of this school corporation. I realize that you've earned that rank and deserve compensation.

But when I have a child in a 28 kid kindergarten class, and a second grader (being tested for the Excel program, no less) who are not being taught by certified art, music and PE teachers, I am absolutely stunned that you'd consider taking this raise and bonus.

As parents, we've been upset at the cuts that have come, but have accepted that they're necessary in order to keep the school corporation solvent. Yet, we have had new administrative positions created to the tune of 100K salaries. I had Louie Jensen in high school; he is no doubt top of the top - but a new position created just for him? That doubled with your raise and bonus is enough to put tears in my eyes, because of what my kids are missing out on- all for reasons that no matter how I turn it over in my mind, I can't justify.

Neither should you.

I don't believe in the voucher program. I'm very much against it. I'm very, very angry that my choices are voucher and the situation stated above. My kids deserve a quality education in what has always been a school district to be proud of; but that's not happening. Whatever issues you and the board have with unions are irrelevant here. Your actions are an extension of your character, and taking this raise and bonus lessens your character, no matter how you feel you can justify it.

If my household has a tough month, or year, I don't get a bonus for being a good mom (and a working mom, who relocated back here because of the schools). No matter how much my husband and kids appreciate me, if we don't have it, we don't have it. Same for you and the school corporation.

I know you have children in this system. Take a step back from superintendent, and stand completely- COMPLETELY- in the Dad role for a minute. Imagine that each year, your children have more and more cut in their classrooms, and fewer certified teachers. Now, imagine that the guy at the top gets $28K more per year, in addition to a $10K bonus...while your children continue to see less and less. Can you see it? Can you feel it? That's anger, Dr. Hibbard. That's unjust, and I know you feel it, when you completely stand back as solely- and most importantly- a dad.

Do the right thing. Don't accept this raise or bonus. When things turn around fully, THEN take it- but not until then.

Sincerely,
Kate Caufield

Beam: "The hypocrisy of a raise when so many others have sacrificed for the good of our school community is unreal."

Apart from the five school board members and Bruce Hibbard himself, two days have passed with nary a single peep from anyone in the community who believes the superintendent's salary increase, and the largely non-transparent way it was pursued, were positive developments. Surely someone out there agrees with the school board's Fab Five? If readers locate anyone who does, please send him or her to me, as I'd be happy to present the other side of the story, although I suspect it's too "toxic" to touch until attention spans slacken. In the interim, Amanda Beam approaches the topic from the perspective of Cupid's arrow, and scores another direct hit.

The case of the love struck school board, by Amanda Beam (Hoosiermandy blog)

Cupid’s arrows struck early yesterday at the New Albany Floyd County School Board Meeting. That little naked cherub is good. The sharp projectiles incapacitated five of the seven board members and made them fall undyingly in love with our superintendent, Dr. Bruce Hibbard. In their adoration, the members voted to give Hibbard a $28,500 raise in his new contract as well as a one time $10,000 bonus. That brings Hibbard total salary to $170,500 effective immediately. Happy Valentine’s Day, indeed.