Rep. Vernon G. Smith appointed to Midwestern Education Committee

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma (R-Indianapolis) has appointed State Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) to serve as a member of the Council of State Governments’ Midwestern Legislative Conference Education Committee for the 2017-2018 biennium.

Dr. Smith is an education professor at Indiana University Northwest and is the ranking Democratic member of the Indiana House Education Committee.

“I am honored to be chosen to serve on this important, bipartisan legislative committee that explores current and future policy issues affecting education,” said Dr. Smith. “It is enlightening to work with colleagues from other Midwestern states and provinces in Canada. There is a free exchange of ideas and discussion of issues and topics with some of the top education experts in North America.

“The conferees also can view the more extensive landscape of where education is heading and what we need to do in a nonpartisan basis to strengthen public education and ensure students have every opportunity to succeed in their educational careers,” continued Dr. Smith. “I look forward to serving again with the Midwestern Legislative Conference Education Committee.”

The Education Committee submits its observations and findings at the annual meeting of the full Midwestern Legislative Conference, which will be held this year in Des Moines, Iowa from July 9-12.