District news
Dr. Brian J. Smith hired as new superintendent
What happened
On June 30, 2026, the board voted unanimously to hire Dr. Brian J. Smith as superintendent. He had led the School Town of Highland for 13 years. He replaced Dr. Jim McCall, who left at the end of the 2025-26 school year. At the June 22 contract hearing, a speaker said the base pay is about $210,000, with $10,000 more if he lives in the city.
Why it matters to families
The superintendent runs the district day to day and leads budget, safety and staffing decisions for every school.
The evidence
In the June 30 recording, the board says it is 'prepared to recommend Dr. Brian J. Smith as the next superintendent' and approves him by voice vote. The pay figures come from public comment at the June 22 hearing, not from the contract itself.
The source
June 30, 2026 special meeting recording (auto-generated captions)See the full record for Valparaiso Community Schools.
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