Indiana’s K-through-12 schools will likely be spared from the state’s COVID-19 budget cuts. Governor Eric Holcomb is recommending moving ahead with the current K-through-12 budget, including planned increases.
“I’m pleased – beyond relieved, but pleased – to arrive at a position where we’re in full agreement with our friends upstairs in the house and the senate, that we’ll be moving forward with the current budget, which includes a $183 million increase for K-through-12 spending,” Holcomb said during Wednesday’s COVID-19 press conference.
That’s in spite of the fact that state colleges and universities have been asked to cut their spending by seven percent, and state agencies are being told to cut by 15 percent. Office of Management and Budget Director Chris Johnston said that the state’s revenues could fall almost $2 billion short of projections.
“We’re just going to have to be very disciplined with what we’ve already imposed and make sure we achieve those targets,” Johnston explained. “We’ll also have to look for, probably, additional cuts or things to stop doing. Some of the things that we had put on hold such as capital projects, go through that list again, and see again if there’s things that fall through, as far as the priorities there.”
Governor Holcomb said he fully endorses a recommendation from State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick to continue to fund students at 100 percent, if they’re out of the classroom due to COVID-19. Currently, schools only get 85 percent for students who get at least 50 percent of their instruction virtually.
In a statement Wednesday, McCormick said she was pleased by the decisions.
