ANDERSON, Ind. —
Indiana’s general election on Nov. 2 is closer than most of us want to believe.
First and foremost, voter registration ends Monday Oct. 4, the same day when absentee voting begins in the Madison County clerk’s office.
There may be limited interest in this election. Outside of the issue of taxes and tax rates, the funding topic that hits homes hardest is Indiana’s state of education. And that, many of us believe, is best left to school board posts that were decided in May. Those seats, however, affect the direction of schools; those posts respond to the state’s still-troubled funding formula.
Earlier this week, Indiana schools superintendent Tony Bennett reported favorably on the state of Hoosier education. He reiterated his hope to rate school success by using a grading scale, success in narrowing the achievement gaps between white and black students and his push for what amounts to teacher merit pay. These are critical issues but none can be accomplished without our elected officials addressing the state’s funding formula for schools.
That is where this election comes into play.
Schools are being forced to consolidate programs, streamline purchasing processes and lay off teachers, among other funding solutions, to address the loss in The state has allowed parents to transfer their students from their home districts, which shifts funding away from one district to another.
As Bennett said, “Instead of trying to figure out how to get more money for education, schools across the state are figuring out how to get more education for our money.” If there are success stories, there are only a handful in Indiana.
A legislative interim study committee is set to meet Aug. 30 to discuss funding formulas in other states as well asking what changes need to made to improve K-12 funding.
The state of Indiana schools is an issue that filters down to a variety of posts up for grabs in November. Indiana lawmakers have struggled to provide a steady increase in education but the ongoing economic turmoil will mean tighter budgets.
Locally, two state senate and three state representative seats are up for election. Incumbents in each are seeking re-election. For those candidates, voters must demand to know specifically how the candidate interprets the current state of education funding and, if a problem exists, how the candidate suggests a solution including how they anticipate garnering bipartisan support. But if any candidate or incumbent thinks all is going as best as can be, ask them to seek another elected post.
The candidates must have workable solutions for education woes. Merely believing that children deserve a quality education is no longer enough. Madison County voters must ask tough questions of our candidates and now is the time.
Editorials
Editorial: Candidates need education solutions
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Editorial: Burton's retirement was overdue
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Editorial: Firings show inability to turn foes into friends
