Dear Friends,

Taxation without representation sparked the American revolution.

We are still fighting taxation without representation.

House Bill 1423 would leave taxpayers like me in the Indianapolis Public Schools with only three elected representatives of nine on a powerful new board controlling IPS.

This hit on our democracy must be changed.

In a highly controversial revamp blending control of IPS and charter schools in Marion County, the nine member super board would have three charter school leaders appointed by the Mayor, three community leaders appointed by the Mayor, and only three of the seven elected members of the Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners.

The goal of the bill is to be more efficient with school resources, especially with transportation and facilities.  We must not, however, toss out democracy and taxpayer representation.

Charter schools board members are not chosen in public elections.  Charter school board members are appointed by charter school leaders.  Charter schools are not required to transparently report expenditures of public dollars and have public audits as traditional public schools do.

Let legislators know that taxpayer representation must be restored in HB 1423 and elected members of the IPS board must retain full authority.

Find your legislator

Let them know that you say:  NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!

Best wishes,

Vic Smith

“Vic’s Statehouse Notes” and ICPE received one of three Excellence in Media Awards presented by Delta Kappa Gamma Society International, an organization of over 85,000 women educators in seventeen countries.  The award was presented on July 30, 2014 during the Delta Kappa Gamma International Convention held in Indianapolis.  Thank you Delta Kappa Gamma!

ICPE has worked since 2011 to promote public education in the Statehouse and oppose the privatization of schools.  We need your membership to help support ICPE lobbying efforts.  We need all ICPE members to renew their membership.  

Our lobbyist Joel Hand is representing ICPE extremely well in the 2026 session.  We need your memberships and your support to continue his work. We welcome additional members and additional donations.  We need your help and the help of your colleagues who support public education!  Please pass the word!  

 Go to www.indianacoalitionforpubliced.org for membership and renewal information and for full information on ICPE efforts on behalf of public education.  Thanks! 

Some readers have asked about my background in Indiana public schools.  Thanks for asking!  Here is a brief bio:

I am a lifelong Hoosier and began teaching in 1969.  I served as a social studies teacher, curriculum developer, state research and evaluation consultant, state social studies consultant, district social studies supervisor, assistant principal, principal, educational association staff member, and adjunct university professor.   I worked for Garrett-Keyser-Butler Schools, the Indiana University Social Studies Development Center, the Indiana Department of Education, the Indianapolis Public Schools, IUPUI, and the Indiana Urban Schools Association, from which I retired as Associate Director in 2009.  I hold three degrees: B.A. in Ed., Ball State University, 1969; M.S. in Ed., Indiana University, 1972; and Ed.D., Indiana University, 1977, along with a Teacher’s Life License and a Superintendent’s License, 1998.  In 2013 I was honored to receive a Distinguished Alumni Award from the IU School of Education, and in 2014 I was honored to be named to the Teacher Education Hall of Fame by the Association for Teacher Education – Indiana.  In April of 2018, I was honored to receive the 2018 Friend of Education Award from the Indiana State Teachers Association.