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EVEN GOP HOUSE EDUCATION AND BUDGET COMMITTEE SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOSE ON TEXTBOOK FUNDING GIMMICK

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EVEN GOP HOUSE EDUCATION AND BUDGET COMMITTEE SCHOOL DISTRICTS LOSE ON TEXTBOOK FUNDING GIMMICK

PHIL GIAQUINTA, Indiana House Democratic Leader From Fort Wayne

MARCH 22, 2023

INDIANAPOLIS – Due to an accounting ploy by Indiana House Republicans, traditional K-12 schools across the state, including in GOP districts, will be on the hook financially for students’ textbook costs and saddled with an effective budget cut. Indiana House Democrats today called attention to just how much schools in Republican districts have to lose under the plan passed unanimously by their GOP representation at the Statehouse. To show the figures, Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) pointed to the education and budget committee’s district losses which reach into the millions.

The House GOP plans to fulfill Gov. Eric Holcomb’s promise for free textbooks by putting the burden on cash-strapped public schools. The proposed budget eliminates textbook funding and instead will force schools to pay for the cost of textbooks out of their state funding, even for students on free and reduced lunches, which the state currently covers.

On the surface, most public school districts are receiving some sort of an increase in base student funding from 2023 to 2024. Because of the textbook provision, however, that increase is either slashed or turns negative once textbook costs are factored in. Given inflation is at 6.0%, most school districts are thus receiving a practical funding cut.

Below are tables that break down the funding cuts that will be experienced by all Republican-represented Indiana House districts, with representation on the education or budget committees, once the textbook fees are factored in. Attached to this press release is further information on these calculations.

Indiana House Education Committee: 

State

Rep.

 FY 2023 Base Student Funding FY 2024 Base Student Funding Percentage Change New Textbook Costs for FY 2024 Percentage Change with Textbook Costs Factored in Percent adjusted for inflation

(Inflation: 6.0%)
Behning (91) 507,640,424 522,905,288 3.01% 5,464,377 1.93% + 4.07% –
Carbaugh (81) 253,095,843 258,220,881 2.02% 3,571,795 0.61% + 5.39% –
Cash (25) 134,879,120 142,879,831 5.93% 1,958,292 4.48% + 1.52% –
Davis (54) 134,127,367 140,244,781 4.56% 2,336,766 2.82% + 3.18% –
Goodrich (29) 361,318,864 376,520,412 4.21% 5,960,322 2.56% + 3.44% –
Jordan (17) 104,278,872 106,928,705 2.54% 1,933,083 0.69% + 5.31% –
McGuire (93) 439,051,477 452,664,532 3.10% 4,774,701 2.01% + 3.99% –
Payne (66) 124,944,563 128,289,023 2.68% 2,044,645 1.04% + 4.96% - 
Teshka (7) 261,851,686 264,708,994 1.09% + 3,793,620 0.36% – 6.36% –

Indiana House Ways and Means Committee: 

State

Rep.

 FY 2023 Base Student Funding FY 2024 Base Student Funding Percentage Change New Textbook Costs for FY 2024 Percentage Change with Textbook Costs Factored in Percent adjusted for inflation

(Inflation: 6.0%)
Thompson (28) 172,195,627 180,602,580 4.88% + 3,635,750 2.77% + 3.23% –
Cherry (53) 165,475,378 170,429,416 2.99% + 2,713,272 1.35% + 4.65% - 
Jordan (17) 104,278,872 106,928,705 2.54% + 1,933,083 0.69% + 5.31% –
Heine (85) 320,724,315 328,050,680 2.28% + 4,311,219 0.94% + 5.06% - 
Heaton (46) 172,184,678 176,663,993 2.60% + 2,560,374 1.11% + 4.89% –
Goodrich (29) 361,318,864 376,520,412 4.21% + 5,960,322 2.56% + 3.44% –
Baird (44) 78,117,505 81,436,945 4.25% + 1,247,355 2.65% + 3.35% –
Judy (83) 282,027,167 288,103,529 2.15% + 3,645,832 0.86% + 5.14% –
Mayfield (60) 212,035,871 219,657,754 3.59% + 3,592,642 1.90% + 4.1% –
O’Brien (78) 216,514,003 220,145,295 1.68% + 2,613,946 0.47% + 5.53% –
Prescott (33) 135,266,757 151,621,693 12.09% + 1,568,211 10.93% + 4.93% +
Rowray (35) 135,230,507 139,058,086 2.83% + 2,371,922 1.08% + 4.92% –
Slager (15) 89,804,942 92,386,878 2.88% + 2,997,932 0.46% – 6.46% –
Smaltz (52) 84,692,647 86,130,416 1.70% + 1,470,513 0.04% – 6.04% –
Snow (22) 117,357,992 119,561,212 1.88% + 2,141,482 0.05% + 5.95% –

“I don’t like to make a habit out of commenting on other districts’ affairs, but it’s imperative that Hoosiers across the state understand just how harmful this proposal will be and what’s at stake,” House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) said. “Too often, rural, suburban and urban school districts are pitted against each other. But the majority of our public school districts, which serve 90% of Hoosier kids, are getting a bad deal here. We must unite to stand up for our kids and say no to draining our schools of vital resources.

“I’m confused by House Republicans’ reluctance to give all schools a cost-of-inflation raise given their professed outrage over the past year’s inflation. Most schools are receiving less than a 6% increase, which would not keep up with current rates of inflation. It makes you wonder whether they’re really all that interested in turning their inflation complaints into action on behalf of their constituents, let alone all Hoosiers, despite being in charge of all branches of our government.

“House Republicans frequently gloat about Indiana’s lucrative surplus, but what good is a surplus if we don’t use it to help enhance the lives of our constituents and bolster programs such as public education? This scheme to deduct the cost of textbooks from a school’s annual budget is not only dishonest, it takes away from the resources schools have to give our children the best possible education.

“I am calling on my colleagues in the Senate to adopt Governor Holcomb’s original textbook proposal to avoid adverse effects on Hoosier school districts.”

As part of the House Republican budget proposal, this provision has passed out of the House and is now under consideration by the Senate. GiaQuinta encourages all concerned parents and residents to contact their state representative and senator to express dissatisfaction with the proposal.

FOOTNOTE:  The City-County Observer posted this article without bias or editing.

 

USI Social Media Symposium to virtually host award-winning Australian social media professional

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USI Social Media Symposium to virtual host award-winning Australian social media professional

March 21, 2023

WHO: Dr. Karen Sutherland, Senior Lecturer at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, will present the keynote presentation. In addition to her role at the University of the Sunshine Coast in Australia, she is a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy, author of the award-winning text, Strategic Social Media Management – Theory and Practice, co-author of Public Relations and Strategic Communication and has contributed to the forthcoming book, Transmedia Brand Storytelling – From Theory to Practice. Sutherland is also the co-founder and Social Media Specialist at Dharana Digital, a specialized marketing agency that assists health and wellness coaches in obtaining leads by providing customized training in social media, web design, and SEO.

WHAT: Each Spring Semester, the USI College of Liberal Arts, Foundation and Communications and Media Department presents the Social Media Symposium, featuring a presentation focusing on the impact of social media on communications.

Sutherland’s virtual presentation is titled, “Social Media in Australia: Trends, Habits, Education and Employability.”

WHEN: The virtual presentation will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 22.

Sutherland will be available for virtual media interviews ahead of her presentation from 5:40-5:55 p.m. Wednesday, March 22.

Please RSVP to me by noon Wednesday, March 22. A Zoom link will be provided via email the afternoon of the event.

WHERE: The virtual presentation will be presented live in Carter Hall, located in University Center West.

Founded in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana enrolls more than 9,700 dual credit, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in more than 130 areas of study. A public higher education institution, located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, Indiana, USI offers programs through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education. USI is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University and offers continuing education and special programs to more than 15,000 participants annually through Outreach and Engagement. USI is online at www.usi.edu.

 

United States Seeks Preliminary Injunction Against Denka Performance Elastomer to Immediately Reduce Chloroprene Emissions

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WASHINGTON (March 20, 2023) – Today, the U.S. Department of Justice, on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), filed a motion for preliminary injunction under the Clean Air Act (CAA) requesting that the Court order Denka Performance Elastomer LLC (Denka) to require significant pollution controls to reduce chloroprene emissions, a pollutant that EPA has determined to be a likely carcinogen. The request for immediate relief by EPA and the Justice Department follows the United States’ complaint filed on Feb. 28, alleging an imminent and substantial endangerment to the communities surrounding the facility as a result of Denka’s manufacturing operations.

The Clean Air Act section 303 imminent and substantial endangerment lawsuit is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

“All communities deserve to breathe fresh, clean air, it is one of EPA’s top priorities as we work to protect human health and the environment,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “This is another action that sends a clear message that the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to the health and safety of St. John the Baptist Parish, and I will continue to pledge that EPA will use all legal remedies available to reduce harmful air pollution in this community.”

“Today’s motion asks the court to require Denka to take strong action to protect neighboring communities from the urgent dangers caused by its harmful emissions,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “This action shows our determination to address environmental justice concerns of overburdened communities, and to protect children living and studying today near this facility.”

Denka’s facility, located in St. John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana, manufactures neoprene, a flexible, synthetic rubber used to produce common goods like wetsuits, beverage cozies, laptop sleeves, orthopedic braces, and automotive belts and hoses. Chloroprene is a liquid raw material used to produce neoprene that is emitted into the air from various areas at the facility.

“As Regional Administrator, I am committed to reducing exposure to chloroprene in St. John the Baptist Parish,” said Region 6 Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Transparent engagement with the community is a top priority because people who live near Denka deserve to understand the purpose of the motion filed today and what EPA hopes to achieve by bringing this Clean Air Act Imminent and Substantial Endangerment case.”

In 2010, EPA published its peer-reviewed assessment of chloroprene that concluded it is “likely to be carcinogenic to humans.” Approximately 20% of the total population living within two-and-a-half miles of Denka are children under the age of 18, and between 800-1,000 are children under the age of five. Children under the age of 16 are particularly vulnerable to mutagenic carcinogens like chloroprene. Denka’s chloroprene emissions reach more than 300 young children who attend the 5th Ward Elementary School, located within approximately 450 feet of Denka’s facility. Additionally, 1,200 children who attend East St. John High School, located about a mile-and-a-half north of Denka, are also exposed to the facility’s chloroprene emissions.

WaterSense and Its Partners Encourage Homeowners to Fight Water Waste for the 15th Fix a Leak Week

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Easy-to-fix household leaks waste billions of gallons of water across the country each year

WASHINGTON (March 20, 2023) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) WaterSense program is encouraging consumers and businesses to celebrate the 15th annual Fix a Leak Week, March 20 through 26, by finding and fixing plumbing leaks in their homes and improving irrigation systems for their landscapes.

“This Fix a Leak Week, I invite you to spend a few minutes checking for leaks around your home,” said the Director for the EPA Office of Wastewater Management Dr. Andrew Sawyers. “Over the past 15 years, WaterSense partners have engaged their communities to find and fix leaks – helping people save water and money.”

To help stop leaks that can waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year in the average home, WaterSense partners from coast to coast are hosting community events, educational workshops, public service announcements, and other efforts to show homeowners how to stop water waste and make their water bills more affordable by checking for leaks.

Because toilets are often a source of leaks, EPA recommends checking for silent toilet leaks by placing a few drops of food coloring in the tank and waiting 10 minutes before flushing. If dye is visible in the bowl, there is a leak that may be easily fixed by replacing a worn flapper.

With spring here, EPA recommends checking irrigation components that may have been damaged by winter’s cold. A “sprinkler spruce-up” that checks for broken parts, connects system components tightly to avoid leaks, and directs sprinklers to spray on landscapes can help reduce water waste outdoors.

If any fixtures require replacement, look for models that have earned EPA’s WaterSense label. The WaterSense label is your guide to identify products, programs, and homes that are independently certified to use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well or better than standard models.

Big Ten Champions Ready for NCAA Meet

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MINNEAPOLIS – Repeat Big Ten Champion Indiana men’s swimming and diving team ready to compete on the national stage.

This week, the No. 6-ranked Hoosiers will look to build on their momentum with 13 qualified student-athletes and all five relays competing at the 2023 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships inside the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The action kicks off Wednesday night and runs through Saturday (March 22-25). Streaming is available via the ESPN Plus digital platform.

The 200-yard medley relay and 800-yard freestyle relay will be contested on Wednesday night, kicking off the meet. IU is the No. 13 seed in the medley relay after swimming a 1:23.52 at the Big Ten Championships and taking bronze. The program record is a second faster, set at the 2022 conference meet in 1:22.51. IU’s 800 freestyle relay is ranked No. 6 in the country after winning gold at Big Tens in 6:10.80.

Thursday is the first full day with a preliminary session beginning at 10 a.m. CT. Sophomore Luke Barr gets the individual swims started in the 200 IM (1:43.14) leading into the 50 free, where the Hoosiers have four swimmers. Senior Van Mathias leads the group as the No. 13 seed with a 19.00 that won the Big Ten title, followed by junior Gavin Wight (19.26) and sophomores Finn Brooks (19.39) and Rafael Miroslaw (19.46).

Day two also marks the first day of diving. Four Indiana divers qualified for all three events, beginning with the 1-meter springboard on Thursday. Sophomore Carson Tyler was the Big Ten Champion in the event as redshirt senior Andrew Capobianco earned silver, sophomore Quinn Henninger also reached the podium in sixth and freshman Maxwell Weinrich earned max points from the consolation final in ninth.

IU is the No. 12 seed in Thursday’s final event, the 200-yard freestyle relay. Mathias, Wight, Brooks and Miroslaw won the Big Ten title in the event with a 1:16.29, about nine tenths short of the program record set in 2019.

Junior Tomer Frankel, Brooks and senior Brendan Burns start IU’s day Friday in the 100 fly. Frankel finished fifth at the 2022 national meet with a career-best 44.38 while Burns was ninth in 44.54. This season at Big Tens, Frankel (44.66) and Brooks (44.38) earned silver and bronze, respectively. Next up in the 200 free, Miroslaw owns the No. 10 time in the country coming in with a 1:32.10 set at Big Tens and owns a career-best 1:31.89 from a 2022 conference meet relay split.

The 100-yard breaststroke is Indiana’s most loaded event with five athletes competing. Mathias (51.32) and sophomore Josh Matheny (51.50) are the Nos. 11 and 13 seeds backed up by junior Jassen Yep (52.05), Barr (52.68) and junior Maxwell Reich (52.84).

Burns will swim his second event Friday in the 100 back, in which he is seeded No. 4 with a 44.65. A year ago, he was the runner-up in the event with a program record 44.15, faster than the top-seeded swimmer in this year’s meet.

Capobianco will try for his third NCAA title on the 3-meter springboard after medaling three times and earning four first-team All-America honors in the event this far in his career.

IU’s 400 medley relay quartet of Burns, Matheny, Frankel and Miroslaw approached the program record (2:59.70) in 2022 while capturing silver at the national championships with a 3:00.76. The same four earned gold at this year’s conference meet in 3:01.53. The relay will certainly challenge for the national title as the No. 4 seed coming in.

The final individual swimming event highlights IU’s final day as Burns defends his 2023 NCAA title in the 200-yard butterfly. He enters the week as the No. 2 seed after winning his fourth straight Big Ten 200 fly title in 1:39.51, though he swam a program record 1:38.71 to win the national title last year.

Leading into the 200 fly, Indiana has four athletes seeded in both the 100 free and 200 breast. Mathias leads the way in the 100 free as the No. 8 seed (41.58), followed by Miroslaw (42.38), Wight (42.75) and Brooks (43.07). Matheny is 11th in the 200 breast (1:51.23), with Yep (1:52.33), Reich (1:52.35) and Barr (1:54.37) behind.

IU’s four divers will close things out in the platform diving event. At Big Tens, Tyler, Henninger, Capobianco and Weinrich finished first, second, third and fifth in a dominant performance.

The meet will conclude with the 400-yard freestyle relay, IU’s third top-10 relay. Mathias, Wight, Frankel and Miroslaw wrapped up IU’s Big Ten title with a victory in the event, going 2:47.11. That time is just a second off the program record.

Our VUlnerable Community: Societal Issues and Concerns presented by Vincennes University

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WHAT: Vincennes University Homeland Security and Public Safety students will present a Capstone Community Academy on various timely topics affecting communities and keynote speakers will include representatives from FBI Indianapolis and Knox County CASA.

VU’s Homeland Security and Public Safety Program Chair Lou Caprino served for nearly 30 years in the FBI.

On Tuesday, March 28, 2023, the community academy will focus on drug concerns, juvenile crimes, hate crimes, and other domestic issues and concerns.

On Thursday, March 30, 2023, presentations will focus on human trafficking, cyber threats, health hazards, and transportation hazards.

WHEN: Doors open at 5 p.m. (ET) on March 28, 2023, and March 30, 2023. Presentations begin at 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Vincennes University, Indiana Center for Applied Technology (ICAT), Room 153 1500 N. Chestnut S ,Vincennes, IN 4759

 

BASEBALL ACES HEAD TO SIUE WEDNESDAY

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The University of Evansville baseball team will put its five-game winning streak on the line on Wednesday night, as the Purple Aces will travel west to Edwardsville, Illinois to take on the SIUE Cougars at Roy E. Lee Field at Simmons Baseball Complex.  First-pitch is set for 5 p.m. and the game can be heard on-line through SIUECougarNetwork.com.

Evansville will bring a 12-7 overall record into Wednesday night’s contest.  The Purple Aces have won five-straight and 12 of the last 14 games overall after sweeping a weather-shortened two-game series from Purdue over the weekend.  Junior catcher Brendan Hord (Lexington, Ky./Paul L. Dunbar) led UE offensively over the weekend with a .556 average, as he went 5-for-9 with a pair of doubles and two RBI in the two contests against Boilermakers.

Overall, fifth-year first baseman Chase Hug (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike/Olney Central) continues to lead UE offensively with a .431 batting average and a .602 on-base percentage.  Hug entered the week ranked second in NCAA Division I baseball in terms of on-base percentage, and he has reached base in all 19 games this year and 25-straight games overall dating back to last season.

Graduate student Jarrett Blunt (Ottumwa, Iowa/Univ. of Omaha) is expected to get the start on the mound for UE on Wednesday night.  Blunt will be making his second start of the year, and will bring a 2-0 overall record and 2.00 ERA into Wednesday’s game.  He is expected to be opposed by SIUE grad student Taylor Bruninga (1-0, 4.76 ERA).  Bruninga actually started his collegiate career as a basketball player at Illinois State, and averaged 4.3 points per game in four career games against Evansville for the Redbirds.

UE leads the all-time series over SIUE, 19-10.  The Purple Aces have won two-straight in the series, including a 17-10 game played at UE’s German American Bank Field at Charles H. Braun Stadium last May.  Fifth-year outfielder Danny Borgstrom led UE by going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in the contest last May, and Borgstrom has hit safely in his last nine career games against OVC competition.

Vanderburgh County Recent Booking Records

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Vanderburgh County Crash Report

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