Brown County Schools

World Class Opportunities. Small School Relationships. Lifelong Impact.

October 23, 2020

An Update from Brown County Schools

We have investigated how the 2020 Brown County High School Yearbook was written. We are grateful for your input
and patience as we worked through a challenging week for our educational community.

Our investigation did not identify any students (currently enrolled or graduated) who were involved in the creation of
the offensive content. We believe the content was created by the faculty advisor for the yearbook; he will no longer
serve in that role. Additionally, this same faculty member is being suspended without pay for two weeks.

Both the family of the student and the former faculty advisor involved have committed to a restorative conference
where the harm that was caused is acknowledged, the individual causing the harm is held accountable, and an honest
discussion about the harm caused by this inexcusable act is conducted.

Brown County Schools is committed to continuing its non-discrimination practices that were initiated before the 2020
Yearbook was distributed. These practices include, but are not limited to: ongoing engagement with the district’s
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant, ongoing convening of the Brown County Schools Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion Committee, the delivery of focused professional development regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for all
faculty and staff, and the continued advancement and engagement of the Brown County High School Students for Equity
Committee.

We also understand this discussion will and needs to continue. We are having meaningful conversations with students,
families, and members of the larger Brown County community to help ensure an incident of this type will never happen
again. We will continue to keep you informed of our efforts.

We remain deeply grateful for the ongoing engagement of the student and family involved in being a collaborative
partner in rejecting discrimination of all types and against anyone. We will not waver in our commitment to treating all
our students with the respect and dignity they deserve. We absolutely and unreservedly reject the use of any pejorative
term to describe anyone—especially those who are a member of the Brown County Schools family.

357 E. Main Street ▪ P.O. Box 38 ▪ Nashville, IN 47448

(P) 812.988.6601 ▪ (F) 812.988.5403
www.browncountyschools.com
Superintendent: Dr. Laura Hammack
Treasurer: Mrs. Julia Smith
Brown County Schools Board of School Trustees:
President: Carol Bowden Vice President: Vicki Harden Secretary: Marlene Barnett
Members: Stephanie Kritzer and Steve Miller, Jr.
As we heal from this unfortunate and disheartening incident, our optimism lies in the strong display of commitment, by
students, staff, and the community, to fight against discrimination and create a safe and welcoming environment for
everyone.

Respectfully,

Dr. Laura Hammack, Superintendent of Brown County Schools

Mr. Matthew Stark, Principal of Brown County High School

MEDIA CONTACT:

Robert Vane
robert@veteranstrategies.com
317.696.9443