Statewide—Thousands of teachers are expected to pack the Indiana Statehouse for a rally calling for further increase teacher pay in the biggest such protest in the state amid a wave of educator activism across the United States. Indiana State Teacher’s Association says 146 school districts will be closed while their teachers attend today’s rally.
Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb and leaders of the GOP-dominated Legislature have avoided direct criticism of teachers or the decisions by school districts to close, but don’t expect to take action on further boosting school funding until at least 2021.
Teacher unions say members are frustrated overseeing little or no pay raises in a decade. It’s also the first-day lawmakers are back for the 2020 legislative session. Indiana is 36th in the nation for average teacher pay.
The Indiana State Teacher’s Association says there are three main goals:
- Higher pay for teachers
- Standardized tests to have no effect on pay
- Professional development requirement repealed
School districts closed today in the WRBI listening area include:
Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation
Decatur County Community Schools
Edinburgh Community School Corporation
Fayette County School Corporation
Franklin County Community School Corporation
Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation
Jennings County School Corporation
Madison Consolidated Schools
Milan Community Schools
Rush County Schools
Shelbyville Central Schools
South Dearborn Community School Corporation
Southwestern-Jefferson County Consolidated Schools
Union County College Corner School District
