Eight school boards, their teachers associations, and representatives from five other school corporations gathered Monday in a “show of solidarity” against proposed legislation in the Indiana General Assembly. The Eastern Pulaski School Board made the trip to North White to take part in the large joint meeting.
Each of the participating boards passed resolutions opposing House Bill 1005, Senate Bill 412, and Senate Bill 413 both individually and jointly with the other seven school districts. They said the proposed expansion of voucher programs and the creation of Education Savings Accounts would put traditional public schools at risk, by diverting taxpayer funds to private schools with less oversight.
North White Superintendent Nick Eccles noted that many school boards have passed similar resolutions, but he felt bringing all the school boards together would have a bigger impact. “At no other time has this many school boards from this many counties joined together for a meeting,” Eccles said. “This is a statement to all the public educators across the state that, although we are individual, we are all still one.”
Eastern Pulaski School Board President Tim Rausch told those in attendance that board members can no longer remain silent, if they want legislators to stop taking away the tools, funding, and support that public schools need.
Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents Executive Director Dr. J.T. Coopman praised Governor Holcomb’s efforts to increase school funding but criticized legislators. He argued that expanding vouchers would direct money away from students in rural areas, since many of them don’t have private schools available to them.
Eastern Pulaski Teachers Association President Kate Daily said the move would be “completely contrary” to the “ideal of America,” adding that small and rural schools are the lifeblood of their communities. Delphi School Board President Kirk Schwarzkopf called it “discrimination.”
Monday’s mega-joint session apparently came together in just a matter of days. Superintendent Eccles felt that more boards would have attended if there was more time. The West Central School Corporation was among those that had a representative but not a full board.
