Spring Break is over and, as I journey back to Indiana from sunny Daytona Beach, Florida and review the week's political happenings so far, I write to remind all readers how we accomplished our goal in November and what we must do now to continue that success.
We did not elect Glenda Ritz by sitting idly by and watching others take on the task alone. Nor did we let our opponents go unnoticed for their attempts to destroy our PUBLIC schools. No, we worked together to turn a grassroots campaign into a nationally historic election event. It is now time for our legislators to be reminded of this accomplishment. They continue to be hell bent on ignoring the voices of the voters and pushing through legislation to further destroy and deplete public schools across the state.
The passage of HB 1003 to the full senate is just one clear attempt by our elected officials to take more public tax money and fund their own pockets in the form of private and charter schools. Do not be fooled one minute that they are simply doing this for those who "seek" to transfer from "failing" schools by assisting them through tuition support. No, they are doing this to please their campaign contributors who make money from these private and charter school ventures.
It is time for the full senate to hear from PUBLIC school supporters regarding HB 1003. We MUST CALL and demand a NO vote on HB 1003 and put an end to voucher expansion once and for all. Our elected officials need to be reminded NOW that we vote, and their seats are not safe when they are up for re-election if they continue to slash and deplete our public schools and rob from our children.
Do not think that we stop here! PUBLIC school advocates must be aware that Representative Robert Behning, you remember the florist who is an education "expert", is back at it in House. Common Core, A-F Revisions and Turnaround Operators are Back
Yesterday, Chairman Behning brought an amendment to Senate Bill 493 revisiting several topics from earlier in the session. Senate Bill 493 is Senator Hershman’s bill to give grants to schools that achieve well on ISTEP. Now it includes several new provisions, including:
· A State Board review of Common Core.
· A fiscal cost assessment of Common Core.
· Putting “A” through “F” school grades in law.
· A thorough rewrite of the 1999 Public Law 221, changing the central goal from “improvement” to “performance.”
· Allowing turnaround school operators who take over a school to expand to other grade levels “not currently provided by the school.”
Many of these ideas came out of the failed House Bill 1337. HB 1337 was defeated as a result of PUBLIC school supporters being involved in the process and expressing concerns overnight Billy's contents. As we see the negative effects of these provisions being added to SB 493 by way of amendments by Behning, we must once again take the florist to task and shut him down. Representative Behning is aware we are coming for his seat, heis trying all he can to push his agenda while he still has a chance to destroy our public schools. Keep and eye on the battle looming over this bill. It is worthy to note, while many of us want to see revisions in the A-F system, when Florist Behning was asked if State Superintendent Ritz had input into this A-F plan, he said she did not.
Also in the House Education Committee, an amendment was added to SB 1 that would require an armed school protection officer in every public school in Indiana. Notice was given by Rep. Sue Errington that this UNFUNDED mandate for an armed person doesn’t apply to private schools.
“If you believe this is the way to protect children, why not private schools as well as public schools – especially if they are taking public dollars?” she asked."
According to the bill, a school protection officer would be required in each school and must be on the property during regular school hours and carry a loaded firearm. That person could be a teacher or other school employee who has volunteered and undergone additional training. If no volunteers come forward, districts then might have to hire someone, though there is no money in the bill to train employees or hire outside guards.
A few questions to ask yourself about this amendment and SB 1 ...
1) Do you want an armed "staff" person in your child's school building?
2) How will schools fund the training and pay of an armed "staffer"?
3) If this is important legislation, why is is good for our Public schools, but not for private schools who receive tuition support from our tax dollars intended to support public education.
Spring Break is over! It is time to get back the momentum from November and raise our voices loud to make sure our PUBLIC schools come out with minimal destruction from this legislative session. We must STOP HB 1003 in the Senate, and take a stand again when it comes to SB 493 in the House.
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