For those who haven’t already heard:
April 6, 2023
Dear Friends and Families of MCCSC,
Monroe County Community School Corporation will be canceling in-person instruction and holding an independent, self-paced (asynchronous) elearning day on Thursday, April 13, 2023. The reason for the cancelation is due to an inability to safely conduct in-person instruction due to an excessive number of teacher absences. Additional details on the elearning day will be forthcoming from your teacher(s) and school leader(s).
In February 2023, the Indiana House passed HB1001- the biennial budget supported by a majority Republican caucus (https://iga.in.gov/documents/3c3a2e42). HB1001 proposes minimal changes to general tuition support for public schools with a less-than 5% increase over two years (or an average 2.5% increase each year).
It shouldn’t be this way; yet here we are in 2023 falling further behind in education funding over the past fifteen years.
Currently, Indiana’s average teacher compensation is the lowest of any bordering state (Indiana Next Level Teacher Compensation Report, December 2020) with Indiana’s average teacher compensation in the bottom 25% nationally (Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021).
These funding realities place teachers in a precarious situation compelling them to: leave the classroom to advocate for adequate funding; personally remind legislators of public education’s importance in our community; and explain to elected state leaders that continuing to underfund public education will exacerbate our teacher shortage.
A
s Hoosier teachers, accompanied by other public education supporters, envelop Indiana’s capitol building on April 13, let us hope that Indiana legislators listen to their stories and act in a way that meets the underlying problems; let us hope that amongst the many bills they are considering, legislators will:
- Increase funding for traditional K-12 public education at or above inflationary rates;
- Stop expanding private school vouchers until greater accountability can be created; AND
- Stop the assault on teachers by removing or further limiting teacher rights.
What can you do? - Help us prepare your family for an elearning day on Thursday, April 13, 2023,
- Call or email your child’s teacher or school with any questions or concerns regarding this asynchronous elearning day, AND
- Call your legislators and show your support for adequate funding for Indiana’s traditional public K-12 schools.
I apologize for any inconvenience caused by canceling in-person instruction. However, the root of this inconvenience
is our State’s elected leaders and NOT our teachers. Our teachers are simply asking for our legislators to fund
adequately K-12 public education BEFORE exponentially increasing funding on Indiana’s private school vouchers for
government-funded, private school tuition for families that make up to $220,000 (based on HB1001 proposal for
voucher eligibility to 400% of poverty).
One final note, MCCSC will be providing a breakfast and a lunch meal for students on the day of elearning, April 13.
Meals will be available for pick-up from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Templeton Elementary School Door #7.
Thank you for your continued support of MCCSC!
