Education rules

State legislators have said 2015 will be the education session. That held true Saturday.
Questions about schools, from testing to charters to the state board, dominated the discussion as residents met with Rep. Greg Beumer (R-Modoc) and Sen. Travis Holdman (R-Markle) at the Third House Session sponsored by Jay County Chamber of Commerce at Portland’s Community Resource Center.
Citizens also asked questions about proposed legislation that would take regulations on agricultural operations away from local boards, a rule that prevents volunteer firefighters from running for elective office and annexation.
Education was the dominant topic, with Redkey Elementary fourth grade teacher Dru Mercer and Jay County High School teacher Dave Golden, who serves as a vice president for Jay Classroom Teachers Association, both raising a variety of issues.
Mercer told Beumer and Holdman that testing, specifically ISTEP, has gotten out of hand and that it places undue stress on students. He also expressed concern about State Board of Education member Gordon Hendry’s recent comments in which he criticized the teacher evaluation system that rated 89 percent as either effective or highly effective and a proposal that would make superintendent of public instruction an appointed rather than elected position.
In addressing the question about teacher evaluation, Holdman said most at the state level disagree with Hendry’s assessment.
On the topic of bickering between the state superintendent and state board, he told the more than 40 residents in attendance that he planned to introduce Senate Bill 1 today.
That measure, he noted, would make the state superintendent a member of the state board, which would elect its own chair. It also spells out how items would be placed on the board’s agenda, which has been a consistently contentious topic.
“To be honest with you, the legislators have said ‘we’ve seen this play out now for two years. You people can’t play like grown ups. So we’re going to make the decisions for you,’” said Holdman.
Golden complimented local teachers on their efforts, and questioned money being provided for charter schools and the use of vouchers. He added that if such funding is being provided, charter and private schools should be subject to the same testing and evaluation as public schools.
Beumer said he would look into all of the issues raised while noting that the goal is to provide a choice for parents.
Both Holdman and Beumer said they don’t expect the agriculture bill to gain much traction, noting that control belongs with local boards that are closest to the issue. And while Beumer said he agreed with comments former Jay County Commissioner Milo Miller Jr. made opposing the proposal, he added that he welcomes the opportunity to discuss confined feeding at the state level.
“… we can talk about the future of Jay County and the future of rural Indiana in rooms like this all we want to, but until someone pushes the issue to the General Assembly, it won’t be debated,” said Beumer. “The one thing I like about her legislation is it offers the opportunity on the stage of the General Assembly for both sides to present their arguments.”
Charles “Red” Coons, a member of Redkey Town Council, questioned a law that prevents volunteer firefighters from serving in elective office.
Holdman told the former firefighter that the rule was instated because of abuses in other areas of the state in which volunteer firefighters who also served on boards were being wasteful with taxpayer money.
Portland Mayor Randy Geesaman asked the legislators about annexation, noting that there are areas near Portland that might make sense to bring into the city. The General Assembly is considering changing annexation rules.
“I really oppose involuntary annexation,” said Holdman. “I think the people, in some form, that are going to be annexed ought to have a say in whether or not they’re going to become part of the city or not.”