ISTA Statement on House Budget Bill

In response to the House budget bill, ISTA president Teresa Meredith released the following statement:

“ISTA is deeply concerned that the House budget bill would strip away the state teacher bonus program and provide weak funding levels for already cash-strapped public schools.

Make no mistake - ISTA is not a believer that paying teachers by stipend should be the model and the implementation of these bonuses has not been consistent, nor fair. However, the $84 million was set aside specifically to supplement teacher compensation, address teacher needs and lessen the teacher shortage.

The funding increases for our community public schools are much too weak and need to be higher. Close to half of the community school districts would see a cut in regular education funding from the prior year in 2018. This is not sustainable for these districts, some of which have seen real cuts over several years.

ISTA opposes this version of the state budget on several fronts and is asking lawmakers to find a way to do better for our community-based public schools, where 90 percent of Hoosier kids are enrolled.”