Most school board meetings are weighty affairs, but claps and cheers erupted as a special meeting of Nettle Creek’s school board concluded.
The brief, one-topic meeting on Thursday, June 19, finalized the hire of 2008 Hagerstown High School graduate Chad Lieberman for its new work-based learning/career exploration position.
Superintendent Emily Schaeffer said Lieberman’s role will be a “huge step forward” in providing students with more meaningful and robust career learning experiences that align with Indiana Department of Education’s updated graduation requirements.
Schaeffer said Lieberman’s ideas, enthusiasm and work ethic are tremendous assets, and his past experience and strong partnerships with employers set him apart from other candidates.
During the interview process, Lieberman shared ideas that align with what the superintendent and Elizabeth Bryant, Nettle Creek’s director of learning, have been working on for the past few years, Schaeffer said.
Lieberman began his career at Tri and Franklin County high schools, teaching English and social studies, then became a counselor for Union County schools. In March, Lieberman announced his June 30 resignation from Western Wayne Schools, where he was director of titles and grants.
“It was a pleasant surprise of an opportunity coming back here,” said Lieberman, who expected he’d eventually return to Nettle Creek, but didn’t know when. “When this opportunity came open, I felt it’s something I would be good at and I could contribute positively to the district, so I had to jump for it.”
Lieberman said Indiana’s graduation requirements are constantly changing and will continue evolving, so he and other Nettle Creek employees will stay on top of those developments and adjust accordingly.
“It’s about engaging employers and making them see the value, and providing opportunities to the kids, and allowing the kids to sell themselves when they do have those opportunities,” Lieberman said.
The vote to hire Lieberman was 3-0-1, as Lieberman’s brother, Shaun, who serves as board president, abstained.
Computer sales
An online-only sale began June 24 to sell Nettle Creek’s retired MacBooks, iPads and accessories at a discount. An outside vendor, Secured Tech, is preparing the computers for sale. They were used for five years.
Devices ship directly within three to five business days and come with a 30-day warranty.
Orders must be placed at cbb1.securedtech.com by 9 a.m. June 30. For more information, call 317-482-1613.
A public hearing is taking place at 6:30 p.m. July 9 at Hagerstown Elementary School, 299 N. Sycamore St., to discuss the board’s June 11 preliminary decision to issue general obligation bonds up to $995,000 that can be used for technology, school facilities, buses and equipment.
The board’s next regular business meeting will be 6:30 p.m. July 28, also at HES. The public may attend.
A version of this article appeared in the June 25 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.