Public $ belong in public schools

To the editor: “Please, sir, may I have some more?”

This is what I am reminded of when, every legislative session, public school stakeholders hold out their plates for funding. Like in a Dickens novel, our state legislature drops scraps into our coffers and suggests that we be grateful. This budget session is no exception.

At the onset of this pandemic, it became stunningly clear how much we need our public schools. Our economy came to a near standstill when schools shut down. Our families suddenly had a deep understanding of the incredible art and complexity of teaching, not to mention our teachers’ patience and skill. We saw that the public school “village,” the nurses and social workers, bus drivers and custodians, was invaluable to children’s overall wellbeing. When we returned to school with the extra burdens of teaching in multiple modalities, with protocols and safety measures for cleaning and safety, we witnessed their incredible devotion.

In the face of this dedication and service, how does our legislature propose to show its gratitude?

A budget reflects our priorities and this session we see the disproportionate advantages of dollars going to non-public schools. A current bill, House Bill 1005, stands to expand vouchers and even creates a new program for diverting public funds into private hands — “education savings accounts.” This would be a “debit-card-like” voucher app, tied to publicly funded accounts, for parents to pay for whatever is deemed as an educational service. A look at how this is occurring in states like Arizona reveals the potential for abuse as parents there paid for things like beauty supplies, sporting equipment and, allegedly, an abortion at a health clinic. Few guardrails are on these accounts; they are overseen by a state treasurer as opposed to the department of education. Parents are, in essence, paid to withdraw their students from public schools and, should they wish to return, have pocketed that money however it was spent.

Does anyone remember the recent Indiana virtual charter school $85 million scam? Have we taxpayers received a refund from this fiasco? Who was held accountable? What has changed? This session the legislature is proposing to give virtual charters, rife with corruption, 100% of per pupil funding equal to that which public schools receive. Priorities?

Indiana’s children are in crisis. Mental health professionals, pediatricians, social workers and educators consistently report that suicide, abuse, mental illness and anxiety are on the rise. Families are struggling as well. As childhood poverty rates rise, our legislature proposes to cap the special monies called “complexity” funding for schools which serve these kids. At the same time, they plan to lift the cap on vouchers so that families making even $170,000 can take public dollars to private schools, schools which do not have to accept all children. Priorities?

As in a Dickens’ novel, Indiana’s legislators don’t appear to care for poor children. Instead of a dedication to every child’s constitutional right to free, public education, the authors of these bills envision this type of education policy as an “a la carte” program in which parents can pick and “choose” their educational experience. Pay for a class here; get some services there while siphoning tax dollars meant for all children away from our public schools.

Public schools are essential to our democracy, our economy and to our children’s future. They are a public good and a social responsibility, not a cafeteria for a consumer making choices.

We should not be OK with some children having a four-course meal, while others get gruel.

Public funds belong in public schools where all children are welcome and fed.

Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer

President

Indiana Coalition for Public Education