After a week of controversy surrounding the Vigo County School Board’s announcement of a tentative contract with Chris Himsel to become the new VCSC superintendent, only one person from the community commented at this evening’s board meeting.

Board president Amy Lore opened the meeting with a brief overview of the contract, highlighting the difference in the proposed salary for Himsel ($253,000) and the salary of previous superintendent Rob Hayworth.

Lore stated that the dollar amount for Himsel’s salary, that will be listed on the state’s Indiana Gateway website, will be $10,000 more than Haworth’s. She went on to clarify that the salary amount currently listed for Haworth ($273,645) includes a $30,000 retirement package.

Lore also mentioned that Himsel’s quoted salary did not include an $8,000 yearly car allowance. Shortly after the news of Himsel’s selection was made public local residents took to social media to express frustrations with the way he handled the Northwest Allen County school corporation’s masking policy and a racial complaint filed against the corporation.

Over the past two weeks so many people had expressed concerns about Himsel’s selection that Lore agreed to an interview with local business owner Steve Ellis on his Holding Vigo County Accountable Facebook page to address concerns.

The board is scheduled to vote on the contract at the next regularly scheduled board meeting June 12th. Anyone wanting to comment should arrive early and sign up to speak during the public comment portion at the beginning of the meeting.