CEDAR LAKE | Fallout from threats allegedly made against Jane Ball Elementary School students last month spilled into the new year Tuesday as residents questioned the Hanover School Board.
Von I. Meyer, 60, of Cedar Lake, was arrested Dec. 14 after police said he threatened to kill his wife “at the school” and to “kill as many people as he could before police could stop him.” Meyer’s wife is a cafeteria employee at Jane Ball. Meyer pleaded not guilty Dec. 18 to charges filed in connection with the incident.
Several residents criticized the district’s response to the alleged threats. Others questioned district security measures, calling them inadequate.
Residents largely objected to the email they received after the incident. They said they were not notified soon enough and that the email placed too much blame on police for the delayed flow of information.
Jason Zaideman said that while his daughter participated in a lock-down drill at her school, what she described didn’t seem to cover all the bases. Zaideman said he has military experience and offered to volunteer at the school, but his offer was “brushed aside.”
Board trustee Julie Mueller said that as a matter of policy trustees cannot answer questions during open meetings. She said residents are welcome to email questions to individual board members or school principals.
Brian Bogenschneider took issue with the recent departure of Superintendent Carol Kaiser.
On Dec. 28, the board approved a motion accepting Kaiser’s resignation, which was contingent on her signing a severance agreement. Kaiser had been on paid leave before the board's action.
“You get rid of the superintendent, and taxpayers (don’t) have the right to know (what happened)?" Bogenschneider asked.
The board has consistently declined comment on Kaiser’s departure.
“You owe us an explanation,” he said. “I know you say you don’t have to (explain), but we’re taxpayers. We have the right to know.”
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