This egregious amendment (blindsiding the general public) was posted the afternoon before being heard on Wednesday, March 26, in the House Education Committee.  Targeting IPS yet again, it was no accident that this took place during the Spring Break for teachers and students and yet, so many families of children in charter schools were able to show up with prepared statements in favor of this amendment.

Amendment 9 to SB 373 brings back language from HB 1501 (it’s a shell game), the Facilities and Transportation bill. It takes democracy away from the community, along with the local control, ownership, and financial oversight over transportation and facilities of the IPS (and a couple of other yet-to-be-named school districts) democratically elected public school board by creating a new appointed countywide taxing authority board. This has serious repercussions for all public school districts and, as our lobbyist Joel Hand testified, it would be taxation without representation. You can watch that testimony here.

Our local school board members are elected to oversee decisions for our taxpayer-funded public school buildings and transportation. Hoosier communities do not need more bureaucracy.  This is an anti-democratic and dangerous bill. 

There was no vote yet on this amendment, but the House Education Committee needs to hear from you. Please include your own representative as well. Tell them to oppose Amendment 9 of SB 373. 

Contact the House Education Committee members by calling (317) 232-9600 or emailing:

Rep. Robert Behning – h91@iga.in.gov

Rep. Michelle Davis – h58@iga.in.gov

Rep. Martin Carbaugh – h81@iga.in.gov

Rep. Becky Cash – h25@iga.in.gov

Rep. Andrew Ireland – h90@iga.in.gov

Rep. Julie McGuire – h93@iga.in.gov

Rep. Zach Payne – h66@iga.in.gov

Rep. Hunter Smith – h24@iga.in.gov

Rep. Jake Teshka – h7@iga.in.gov

Rep. Vernon Smith – h14@iga.in.gov

Rep. Edward DeLaney – h86@iga.in.gov

Rep. Sheila Klinker – h27@iga.in.gov

Rep. Tonya Pfaff – h43@iga.in.gov

Quick copy/paste into an email:

h91@iga.in.gov

h58@iga.in.gov

h81@iga.in.gov

h25@iga.in.gov

h90@iga.in.gov

h93@iga.in.gov

h66@iga.in.gov

h24@iga.in.gov

h7@iga.in.gov

h14@iga.in.gov

h86@iga.in.gov

h27@iga.in.gov

h43@iga.in.gov

*As always, please remember the following guidelines when reaching out to legislators:

• Remember to be polite and kind in your language and tone.
• Remind them public education is not a partisan issue.
• Encourage legislators to support legislation that strengthens public schools.
• Personal stories and anecdotes are particularly effective, whether it’s your own personal story or a close friend’s.
• Be disciplined in your messaging: the best way to build support for your position is to keep communication positive, bipartisan, inclusive, and single-issue.
• Avoid getting sidetracked with other issues you care about.
• If you are a constituent, mention that.