Indiana schools chief says he has fences to mend

Indiana's state schools superintendent says he has fences to mend following his push for sweeping education overhauls that legislators approved this year.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said during a Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce forum on Tuesday that he understands the changes he has advocated make many teachers and other uncomfortable.

Bennett says it is unfortunate that many great teachers and schools have felt lumped in with what he called "chronic underperformers," The Herald-Times reported.

Hundreds of teachers attended Statehouse protests this year before the Republican-led Legislature approved the nation's most sweeping private-school voucher program, a plan aimed at expanding charter schools and a law limiting teacher contracts to only salaries and benefits.