The superintendent of Hartland Consolidated Schools has issued an apology for using profanity during a recent board meeting.
HCS Superintendent Chuck Hughes used profanity near the end of a board of education meeting March 16, during an action item titled “Superintendent Salary Schedule.”
According to Board President Kristin Coleman, school superintendents must have a salary schedule under a new expectation from the Office of Retirement Services following a recent court case. The schedule should be in place prior to a superintendent’s retirement, she said.
Hughes said the Michigan Association of Superintendents and Administrators recommended a salary schedule be added to every superintendent contract as an addendum. He said other county superintendents already have a salary schedule in their contract. HCS Chief Financial Officer Rachel Bois said the maximum increase in the superintendent’s salary will be 1.7549%.
Trustee Jeff Scott agreed there should be a salary schedule in place, but said additional changes should be made to comply with the ORS. The proposed document listed Hughes’ name, which Scott said should be changed to read “superintendent.”
Scott also said a salary schedule should be forward-looking, not retroactive; and that Hughes previously served as director of curriculum and instruction — presenting multiple classifications. Scott said he’d rather put the salary schedule in a format such as policy, rather than an addendum.
Hughes said he would be comfortable adopting the motion as-is, adding “it’s better than having nothing.”
“If I thought this was going to be so hard, seriously, I would have just asked for my contract to be extended,” Hughes said.
Coleman proposed making amendments to include the items Scott addressed. Treasurer Greg Keller said he wanted to hear a legal opinion from Thrun Law Firm, at which point Hughes crumpled up his paper and tossed it on the table.
“You know what, Kristin? Throw it away,” Hughes said. “Take it off the board. I don’t really give a s**t. This is stupid. This is an easy, simple one that should’ve just been taken care of. It’s factual. I don’t care. … It’s a waste of our time.”
“This was the agenda we were given to deal with,” Coleman said. “There was no discussion item. We obviously brought new information to the table.”
“Seriously, take it off the table,” Hughes said. “I don’t want it.”
“Let’s keep our composure,” Keller said.
“Chuck, please,” Coleman said.
“No, it’s dumb,” Hughes said.
Keller said the district’s attorneys serve the board and community, not MASA. Secretary Jeff Campbell motioned to postpone a vote, with support from Keller. The motion passed unanimously.
Hughes’ use of profanity was criticized by community members on social media. He issued a public apology in his superintendent update letter March 18.
“I allowed my frustration to get the best of me and used some inappropriate language toward the end of the meeting,” he wrote. “I can assure you that no one can beat me up more than myself for this lapse of judgement. Please know that I have thought a lot about this and the situation. I clearly own my actions and apologize.
“I have taken it upon myself to make a monetary donation to the 2026 Optimist Adopt a Family Program for my reaction to this frustrating situation. I can assure the (board) and the community that this will not occur again in the future. I apologize to anyone who may have been offended by my reaction of frustration in a public meeting and as the superintendent of Hartland Schools.”
— Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on X @SalsaEvan.
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: HCS superintendent issues apology after using profanity during meeting
Reporting by Evan Sasiela, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
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