EVANSVILLE, Ind. Dozens of teachers gathered along the Downtown Evansville Riverfront to protest pending legislation that they say would take desperately needed dollars from public schools and instead put them into private schools.
The teachers gathered to protest funding proposals in the Indiana General Assembly that would provide Education Savings Accounts and expand private school voucher programs.
State and local teachers associations invited colleagues and supporters from districts across southwest Indiana to a Fair Funding Rally at Evansville s Four Freedoms Monument Saturday morning, where speakers said they felt ignored by lawmakers and asked supporters to continue to lobby their representatives for equitable public school funding.
Weekly Statehouse Update: Elections Measure Scaled Back, Handguns Bill Shot Down
Lauren Chapman/IPB News
A bill prioritizing monument protection heads to the governor. A controversial elections measure dramatically scaled back. And legislation eliminating handgun licenses shot down in the Senate.
Here’s what you might have missed this week at the Statehouse.
Local governments must prioritize protecting monuments, statues, memorials and commemorative property – or risk losing some state funding under legislation awaiting the governor’s signature. State police are also ordered to prioritize investigating anyone who even vandalizes monuments, statues, etc. Opponents of the bill, SB 187, say it values those objects over people. But supporters argue “prioritize” doesn’t mean make it the top priority.
Bill Mandating Teachers Annually Opt In For Union Membership Heads To Governor
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Justin Hicks/IPB News
The Indiana House made a final vote of approval Tuesday on legislation directed at the Indiana State Teachers Association. Now, with a stroke of the governor’s pen, it would become a law critics say is an attempt to weaken the state’s largest teacher union.
The legislation mandates that school districts have to get permission from teachers each year before deducting union dues from their paycheck. During the process, teachers must be reminded in large, bold font of their right not to join the union.
Bill Aimed At Indiana Teacher Union Clears House Committee, Now Heads To The Floor
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Justin Hicks/IPB News
Teachers could be required to take extra steps to keep their union membership if legislation headed to the House floor advances after it passed a committee vote last week along party lines.
Senate Bill 251 would have teachers opt in to union membership every year while being informed of their right to not join the Indiana State Teachers Association. School districts would have to confirm their decision by email. Advocates for the bill say a Supreme Court decision means teachers have to give “affirmative consent” before union dues are deducted from their paychecks.
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