The Latest News: Wednesday, July 1

Click here to read an article from this morning's Indianapolis Star, detailing the specifics of the newly passed budget and how it affects public education.




Tuesday, June 30

Click here for the Indianapolis Star's most recent update on the progress and tentative details of the proposed budget.



Monday, June 29

Click here to read an article from Monday's Indianapolis Star about the progress being made on the budget as Tuesday night's deadline looms.

Did you hear? Anna Bennett and Marvin Hutcherson spoke on behalf of IPS funding on WTLC-FM Sunday morning at 11.




Thursday, June 25

Click here to read an article from Thursday's Indianapolis Star about the Governor's attempts to get the current budget passed.


Click here to read an article from the Indianapolis Star about Wednesday's Senate negotiations.



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Click here to view an article concerning division within the Senate, from the Tuesday, June 23, Indianapolis Star.

Click here to view an article about the budget bill from the Saturday, June 20, Indianapolis Star.


Click here to read the testimony the IPS superintendent delivered to the Senate committee June 19.

Click here for a handout on the complexity index.



Update as of Thursday, June 25 -- Conference committee heard testimony yesterday.  Expect that anything could change on a daily basis!!

We are not alone!

Seen in New York headlines June 22:  New York Governor calls New York legislature a "disgrace" and tells them to get to work.  Special session could be called -- budget and education are key issues.

Heard on Chicago radio June 24:  Illinois legislators go home after two days of a special session without a budget.  They are working on a 30-day interim plan, assuming that they will not be able to agree to a budget by June 30.  Illinois governor tells legislators they may have to raise taxes and tells them they will not be allowed to slash social services. (OK, so maybe that part is different.)
 
Now from Indiana news over the past few weeks....

Click the link below to read the June 19 Indianapolis Star story about progress on the budget bill: 

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090619/NEWS05/906190372

Click the link below for the Indianapolis Star story on the June 18 news conference in which education groups say that urban, rural and suburban schools would be hurt by the governor's budget proposal:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090619/NEWS05/906190375

House Speaker Patrick Bauer says the governor’s budget would cripple over 60 percent of the schools in this state.  To read the article from the June 19 Indianapolis Star, click here.


Click the links below to read articles from the Indianapolis Star about other budget proposals before the Indiana General Assembly special session: 

Did you see what Owl Studios (a local jazz music producer) e-mailed to their fan base?

Here's what they said:

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED.  A pretty strong statement that was said and sung decades ago about an illusionary time when there would be no music.  Well, unfortunately that time has come to the Indianapolis Public School system.  With the economy what it is and the city budgets what they are and the State legislature back-biting each other's hindparts, the end result is that the arts get the big bite.  More specifically Superintendent White feels that he has no choice but to cut music instruction out of the curriculum next year unless the state overtime session gets some insight about what growing up is all about.  It is about book learning, athletics and THE ARTS.  If you cut one of these key parts out of the growing up equation, there will be negative implications. 

Without the arts, specifically music education and appreciation, we will be left with no music at all.  It is a true shame that this state's leaders cannot recognize the impact of again cutting the school funding needs down from the necessary levels of what is essential to grow our young people into a mature, peaceful, well rounded adulthood. 

It is strongly suggested that you contact your elected representative to express your opinion on this issue before it is too late....

Thanks, Owl Studios, for your support and for spreading the word!

Here's what some others have to say about the situation...

"IPS is almost finished with a major renovation project of its schools.  It would be a mistake not to support this investment by supporting the programs, students and teachers within the schools.  I want to see my IPS neighborhood improve.  Your support of funding IPS will improve my IPS neighborhood.  Your lack of support will change the value of my IPS neighborhood.  Please vote in support of adequately funding the education of IPS students."     - Maureen Jane, parent of IPS graduates

"Good schools are essential for a strong community.  Strong communities necessarily have strong schools."

"I live right near an IPS school (one of IPS's jewels--School #91 Montessori) it's VERY important that our schools get funding. What will happen to our kids, our neighborhoods?!  This is VERY disconcerting."

"If we continue to go forth with the process as it stands now, we will lose IPS forever. Think of our youth.  Think of our community. Think of Indianapolis as a whole."

"Indianapolis cannot be a world class city without effective public school and public transportation systems.  All children have the right to quality education to prepare them to be constructive and productive members of the community."

"IPS by law must accept ALL students who need educating.  It cannot pick and choose, screen for those with the best behavior, highest academic achievement, nor can it exclude anyone because of physical or developmental disabilities, or any other "undesirable" special needs.  Private, parochial, and charter schools can and DO exclude such students.  There are costs associated with providing a viable classroom experience for such sudents, providing physical and  occupational therapy, speech and language pathology treatments, and all other necessary accomodations for such students.  If the "dollars follow the student" in a funding bill, PLEASE ensure that these dollars are allocated with this in mind.  The rich diversity of opportunity in IPS's many and varied options SHOULD NOT be undermined."

"Let's be a city that not only is nice to visit but invites people to live in it."

"My children have received excellent education at IPS schools. And one of them got services that would not have been available at private school. We must keep on offering quality traditional and magnet programs -- it is key to our city's health!"

"Please address the issues our students and teachers face each day.  Our schools produce the children who will represent our community. We must provide them with the tools to achieve their best outcome."

"Please do not cut funding for IPS schools, which educate the most diverse and challenging population in the state."

"The successful passage, in every eligible precinct, of the IPS Bond Proposal in November of 2008 indicated a strong support of public education in our city. Please hear the voters!"

"This year, among the 1,100 plus students we served at Broad Ripple High School, were children who were homeless, living in shelters or in their parent's car, children whose relative had been shot and killed the night before, children moved to foster homes the night before, children living in group homes because there were no relatives to raise them or foster families available, and children being raised by grandmothers because their parents are incarcerated or disabled. Every day teachers in IPS schools mentor these students through these traumatic experiences, and still move them toward progress on meeting standards met by students in more modern buildings with intact, middle class families.  Please do not change the funding formula for urban school districts in a way that punishes these children.  Their challenges are not of their own making, and they deserve an equal playing field on which to pursue the right of every American citizen, a free, public education."

"We proudly send our daughter to the Sidener Academy (and prior to it opening, CFI 84) and we would really hate to see these programs and many others adversely affected by the proposed budget cuts. Please make the right choice here so that we may keep our children in the Indianapolis Public School system!"