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Democrats on House Education Committee demand stronger leadership from governor as schools consider return

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INDIANAPOLIS – Four Indiana House Democrats serving on the Education Committee expressed their disappointment with current guidelines, known as “Indiana's Considerations for Learning and Safe Schools” (IN-CLASS), provided for school districts by the Holcomb administration as they contemplate a return after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The letter addressed to Governor Eric Holcomb was signed by State Reps. Ed. DeLaney (D-Indianapolis), Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette), Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute), and Ranking Minority Member for the House Education Committee Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary). Sent yesterday, the letter urged for strong state leadership by providing what the legislators believe schools really need: “a uniform set of required minimum practices and stable financial support to ensure both safety and academic prosperity.”

The Democratic lawmakers identified directives Holcomb could issue to provide a better sense of direction and reassurance to staff, faculty, students and parents including:

  1. Hold school districts harmless from change in enrollment numbers that would lower state funding. Recent polling suggests that nearly a third of parents are “very likely” to not have their children return to school. This suggests schools face uncertainty in enrollment numbers. Indiana funds schools on the basis of recent enrollment numbers. They should not receive one penny less than what they are entitled and what they expect from the state.
  2. Freeze the policy that requires schools with troubled budgets to send notifications to teachers of layoffs by July 1. In the midst of education changes that are expected to come with COVID- 19, teachers are Indiana's most important asset and should be treated as such.
  3. Provide a uniform date before which schools cannot start. If a school district has reasons for starting at a later date due to unique circumstances, that should be acceptable. Allowing schools districts to choose varied start dates could lead to competition on the front or back end to recruit students and reach desired numbers.

Read the full letter below.

 


 

June 9, 2020

The Honorable Eric Holcomb
Governor of Indiana
200 West Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

Dear Governor Holcomb:

As the Democratic members of the Indiana House Committee on Education, we write to urge you and your administration to provide a much needed sense of direction for the successful reopening of our state's schools. We view this as your responsibility. It is our collective concern that the proposals provided on June 5, known as “Indiana's Considerations for Learning and Safe Schools” (IN-CLASS), will not be enough to guide our school districts through the adverse effects of a global pandemic. Schools need a uniform set of required minimum practices and stable financial support to ensure both safety and academic prosperity. Guidelines which are too loose can lead to confusion and will require enormous local efforts to enact. Without strong state leadership, schools are left planning for multiple reopening scenarios and Hoosiers are left unsure of whether schools will be safe or even open come fall.

We feel that directives on the following three items could provide a better sense of direction and reassurance to staff and faculty, students and parents:

  1. Hold school districts harmless from change in enrollment numbers that would lower state funding. Recent polling suggests that nearly a third of parents are “very likely” to not have their children return to school. This suggests schools face uncertainty in enrollment numbers. We fund schools on the basis of the recent enrollment numbers. They should not receive one penny less than what they are entitled and what they expect from the state.
  2. Freeze the policy that requires schools with troubled budgets to send notifications to teachers of layoffs by July 1. In the midst of education changes that are expected to come with COVID-19, teachers are our state's most important asset and should be treated as such.
  3. Provide a uniform date before which schools cannot start. If a school district has reasons for starting at a later date due to unique circumstances, that should be acceptable. Allowing schools districts to choose varied start dates could lead to competition on the front or back end to recruit students and reach desired numbers.

We urge you to consider our recommendations to provide the best opportunity for school districts and students to have a healthy and successful transition back to traditional classrooms.

We look forward to responsive action in support of our students.

Sincerely,

Ed DeLaney
State Representative
Indiana House District 86

Sheila Klinker
State Representative
Indiana House District 27

Tonya Pfaff
State Representative
Indiana House District 43

Vernon G. Smith
State Representative
Indiana House District 14

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