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Teacher Pay Commission Aims To Raise Indiana Average To $60,000

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Teacher Pay Commission Aims To Raise Indiana Average To $60,000

December 16, 2020  
 Posted by:

By Taylor Wooten 
TheStatehouseFile.com 

INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission determined that $600 million per year will be needed to increase teacher pay in Indiana to a competitive average salary, around $60,000 a year.

The commission was created by Holcomb in 2019 and faced criticism for meeting behind closed doors and for not having any members who are teachers, except for one on an advisory council. The commission did conduct a three-stop educator listening tour and received input from more than 1,000 Hoosiers on its website.

Commission Chair Michael Smith described the group’s findings at a press conference Monday morning. The commission recommended state government and local school corporations consider reallocating expenses, increasing sources of revenue and improving policies around teacher compensation.

Mike Smith, chairman of the Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission, reveals details from the group’s report about how to increase teacher pay in Indiana Monday. The report includes 37 recommendations to lawmakers and local school districts. Photo by Erica Irish, TheStatehouseFile.com.

“It will take both revenue increases and cost reductions and reallocations…It’s not a quid pro quo,” Smith said.

The recommendations from the commission are not binding and require action from the legislature and school districts.

The research from the commission put Indiana ninth in the Midwest for teacher pay with an average of $51,119 a year. The jump to $60,000 would move the state up to third in the region. Indiana is currently ranked 38th out of the 50 states in teacher pay for 2018-2019, according to the report.

The 183-page report contains 37 recommendations and lists five top policies that could yield $255 million to give teachers a raise. It recommends, for one, that school corporations limit how educators’ spouses participate in healthcare plans if they have access to healthcare through their own employer.

The report also said lawmakers should follow through on Holcomb’s proposal to use $250 million to pay down debt in the pre-1996 teacher retirement fund, which would result in $50 million in annual savings.

Households earning more than $150,000 should be exempt from the tax credit for using Indiana’s CollegeChoice 529 plan, which helps families save money for college.

A large burden is put on school corporations to cut costs and find new sources of revenue, with the report asking schools to have referendums to increase local taxes and put them towards teacher pay.

“If districts who include 10% more of our 1 million students were to pass similar referenda at similar per-pupil rates of contribution to school funding, we would derive another $80 million to be redirected to teacher pay,” Smith said.

COMMISSION MEMBERS:

  • Commission Chairman Michael L. Smith (Indianapolis), former chairman, president and CEO of Mayflower Group and former executive vice president and CFO of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Melissa Ambre (Noblesville), director of the Office of School Finance for the Indiana Department of Education
  • Jená Bellezza (Gary), COO of Indiana Parenting Institute
  • Tom Easterday (Zionsville), former senior executive vice president, secretary & chief legal officer for Subaru of Indiana Automotive
  • Rebecca Gardenour (New Albany), member of the New Albany-Floyd County Board of School Trustees and member of the Indiana School Boards Association
  • Emily Holt (Arcadia), a math teacher at Westfield High School
  • Dan Holub (Indianapolis), executive director of the Indiana State Teachers Association
  • Katie Jenner (Madison), senior education advisor to Gov. Holcomb
  • Bob Jones (Evansville), retired chairman and CEO of Old National Bancorp
  • Nancy Jordan (Fort Wayne), former senior vice president of Lincoln Financial Group
  • Lee Ann Kwiatkowski (Muncie), director of public education and CEO of Muncie Community Schools
  • Denise Seger (Granger), chief human resource officer for Concord Community Schools in Elkhart
  • David Smith (Evansville), Superintendent of Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
  • Outgoing Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick said in a statement schools will need government support to implement higher teacher pay, because many of the action items listed for schools are currently in place.

“Most schools can take pride in realizing many of the recommendations in the report have already been considered and implemented,” McCormick said. “As we enter the 2021 Indiana General Assembly legislative session, Hoosier educators look forward to the additional state funding and state-level policy actions necessary in order for teacher compensation to truly move forward.”

Smith said before taking media questions at Monday’s press conference that the cost-cutting measures wouldn’t all be widely received.

“We fully realize that not everyone will like every one of our recommendations,” he said.

The report aims to set a minimum starting salary of $35,000 by the 2021-2022 school year and increasing that wage to $40,000 the following year. In 2019, teachers in small rural districts made a starting salary of $30,000.

Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, showed concern about the spending cuts proposed in the report, including the recommendation to limit healthcare benefits to spouses.

“I do not feel it is the time to start eliminating benefits from teachers and their families when many districts are struggling to recruit and retain qualified teachers,” GiaQuinta said. “I also do not agree that shifting the burden of school funding from the state to local levels through referenda is the best move we can make to get teachers, students and staff what they need now.”

Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, chair of the House Education Committee, said he will consider the recommendations as the lawmakers work to strengthen support for Hoosier teachers.

FOOTNOTE: Taylor Wooten is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.

A COVID-19 Vaccine Has Arrived In Indiana

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A COVID-19 Vaccine Has Arrived In Indiana

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allowing the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine to be shipped to Indiana and other states.

Only people who received a link directly from their employers can register for vaccination at this time. That includes hospital-based employees and long-term care staff. A medical ID will be required.

Who Will Be Eligible To Receive The Vaccine First?

Initial doses will be limited, so the first priority for the vaccine will go to healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities.

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you are among the first group of healthcare workers who will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Please make sure that your email address is current with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency so that you will receive updates when registration is open.

    • Do you work or volunteer in healthcare and have (physical or close) contact or face to face interactions with patients? Examples include:
      • Inpatient, outpatient, provider office setting, nursing homes, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, in-home services
      • This includes all clinical and non-clinical positions: clinicians, dietary, environmental services, administrators who have direct contact with patients, clergy who see patients in the healthcare setting, non-clinicians who assist in procedures, transportation staff, etc.
      • This also includes local health department staff who interact with patients at test sites, health clinics or provide direct patient care
    • Do you have exposure to COVID-19 infectious material? (Examples include cleaning of rooms or material from COVID-19 patients, performing COVID-19 testing, other exposure to infected tissue, performing autopsies or other post-mortem examinations of COVID-19 patients)
  • Do you reside in a long-term care facility (nursing home, residential care, assisted living)?

Only people who received a link directly from their employers can register for vaccination at this time. As of Dec. 15, only hospital-based employees, long-term care staff, and emergency medical service providers are eligible to receive the vaccine. A facility ID will be required. We will notify additional healthcare personnel of their eligibility as more vaccine becomes available.

The timeline for additional phases of vaccine administration is yet to be determined.

The Vaccine

The first COVID-19 vaccine to receive Emergency Use Authorization was created by Pfizer-BioNTech. Additional vaccines by Moderna and other manufacturers also are being developed. The EUA process has allowed for clinical trials and manufacturing to occur simultaneously, while still allowing for rigorous testing to determine the vaccine’s safety and how effective it is.

  1. Safety is top priority.
    The first goal is to focus on the safety of the vaccine and determine how effective it is. Before any vaccine is released, it must first complete three phases of clinical trials to study its effect on thousands of diverse study participants. Once that study is done, the pharmaceutical company submits the results for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. FDA. This is a way to make important health breakthroughs available to the public quickly.The vaccine is then reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). ACIP is a federal advisory committee of medical and public health experts who develop recommendations on the use of vaccines in the U.S. public.The next step is for the Indiana Department of Health’s Vaccine Allocation Plan Development Advisory Group to make final recommendations on the ethical and equitable allocation of a limited COVID-19 vaccine.
  2. There will be a limited vaccine supply at first.
    The first two vaccines expected to be available are being manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna. Some groups will be recommended to get a COVID-19 vaccine first. We have set up a phased-in approach to determine who is eligible for vaccine first based on the most effective way to reduce the impact of COVID-19. This first round of vaccine will go to long-term care center staff and healthcare personnel who in their line of may be exposed to COVID-19 patients or infectious material, as well as long-term care residents. The vaccine will not initially be available for children under age 16. Early clinical trials of the vaccine show no adverse effects for pregnant women, but pregnant women should have a conversation with their healthcare providers to see if it’s right for you.
  3. The vaccine will be free.
    Vaccine providers will be able to bill a patient’s insurance for a fee to administer the vaccine, but will not be able to charge the patient. Providers can seek reimbursement for uninsured patients from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Provider Relief Fund.
  4. Prevent the spread of COVID-19 until vaccine is available to everyone.
    The state Department of Health is preparing for the arrival of the vaccine, both in limited supply at first, and through next year when the vaccine will be widely available. Until there is enough vaccine for everyone, it’s crucial for you to continue to take these steps that we can do now to prevent the spread of COVID-19:

    • Wear a mask to protect yourself and others
    • Stay at least 6 feet apart (about 2 arm lengths)
    • Practice good hand hygiene by washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer
    • Isolate yourself if you’re sick and stay home if you’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19
    • Clean frequently touched surfaces often

Indiana’s Vaccine Advisory Groups

Indiana has worked with partners from across the state to develop a vaccination plan. The goal was to get input from a variety of experts in a number of areas, including infectious disease, hospitals and health care, education, faith-based communities, pharmacies, organizations serving minorities and those with disabilities, local health departments and others.

Vaccine Allocation Plan Development Advisory Group: Provided final recommendations on the ethical and equitable allocation of a limited COVID-19 vaccine. This group remains available to assemble as adjustments to the plan are needed as we learn how much vaccine we will receive and review the research about how safe and effective the vaccine is.

Ethical Considerations Advisory Group: Reviewed existing documents and assisted in writing and reviewing ethical approaches to vaccine allocation. This group founded its recommendations with the goals to decrease overall deaths, reduce the spread of COVID-19, make sure limited resources are used responsibly, and support healthcare systems to ensure that they have the resources needed to administer vaccine, treat disease and protect vulnerable populations in a fair, equitable manner.

Vaccine Review Advisory Group: This group will investigate available information on each COVID-19 vaccine and will specifically review the safety profile and efficacy of each population of interest (those at clinical risk and demographic factors).

Equitable Distribution and Communication Advisory Group: Worked to ensure that all Hoosiers were considered and represented as a component of the vaccine allocation plan. Advised on key components of communication.

Data Advisory Group: Explored creative data resources and compiled Indiana-specific data for critical populations.

Vaccination Program Implementation Committee: External committee facilitated by the Indiana Department of Health’s (IDOH) State Health Commissioner with representation from state and local government organizations, private sectors, tribes, healthcare, education, and critical infrastructure.

 

A MESSAGE FROM TROPICANA EVANSVILLE GENERAL MANAGER, JOHN CHASZAR                                                                                                                            

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A MESSAGE FROM TROPICANA EVANSVILLE GENERAL MANAGER, JOHN CHASZAR                                                                                                                            

Evansville, IN (December 15, 2020)

 Albert Einstein said, “Time flies when you’re having fun!” So it’s no surprise that 25 years have already passed since Indiana’s first casino opened on Evansville’s riverfront. Fun is what we do.

For the past 24 years, Tropicana Evansville has hosted our biggest party of the year on New Year’s Eve. This year, however, December 31st will be much like any other day.

Due to the number of COVID-19 cases in the tri-state area, Tropicana Evansville’s current health and safety regulations will remain in place and will be strictly enforced – even on New Year’s Eve. The health and safety of our guests and team members is our top priority so here are things you need to know before you visit:

  • Guests are required to wear face masks that cover their nose and mouth at all times.
  • No smoking, no drinking, and no eating are allowed on the Casino floor.
  • Alcohol and non-alcoholic beverage service and consumption is only available and allowed in The Brew Brothers Tap House.
  • A heated smoking area is located in level one of the parking garage.
  • All guests should practice social distancing by maintaining a distance of 6 feet between you and others.
  • Valid identification is required to enter the Casino.

The casino already has a reduced gaming capacity, so the number of players allowed in the casino will be closely monitored. If occupancy becomes an issue, qualified Caesars Rewards players will be given priority admission. We will offer free New Year’s Eve favors to guests but there will be no live entertainment for the public. Also, Cavanaugh’s On the River will be closed for a private event.

If you’re looking to play slot and table games, put on your mask and join us at Tropicana Evansville.

We’re open daily and 24-hour gaming will temporarily return from Friday, December 25th through Sunday, January 3rd. If you’re looking for a wild New Year’s Eve party at Tropicana Evansville, you’ll have to wait until December of 2021 – and I promise we will make up for what is missed this year!

About Tropicana Evansville

Tropicana Evansville is an entertainment complex located on the scenic banks of the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana. The single-level casino encompasses 45,000 square feet of gaming space. Accommodations include a 243-room hotel tower and a 95-room boutique hotel. The property showcases a sportsbook, three dining options, two bars, a conference center, a riverfront event center, and an attached parking garage.

 

AG Curtis Hill Resolves Case Involving Misleading Claims By Abortion Clinic

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Attorney General Curtis Hill announced today he has resolved a case involving a Florida-based company that falsely claimed it operated abortion clinics in Indiana.

Orlando Women’s Center and its owner, Dr. James Pendergraft, operate multiple Florida abortion clinics. On their website, Orlando Women’s Center made multiple misleading posts asserting the company operates abortion clinic locations in various Indiana cities. These actions, Attorney General Hill alleged, constitute violations of the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act.

“Contrary to their claims,” Attorney General Hill said, “Orlando Women’s Center does not operate any abortion clinics in Indiana. Further, this company has never obtained any abortion clinic licenses in Indiana. Abortion providers must always be held accountable when they attempt to twist the truth in the process of selling their services to consumers.”

This month, Orlando Women’s Center entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with the Office of the Attorney General requiring the company to immediately cease all advertising that references Indiana abortion clinic locations purportedly operated by the center.

The AVC also permanently prohibits the center and Dr. Pendergraft from claiming an affiliation with any Indiana abortion clinics unless they actually have such an affiliation.

Under Indiana law, any freestanding entity that provides abortion procedures must be licensed by the Indiana State Department of Health.  As part of the licensing process, the Indiana State Department of Health continually monitors the quality of health care provided by the clinic.

The Consumer Protection Division of the Indiana Attorney General’s Office investigates and enforces multiple laws, including the Deceptive Consumer Sales Act, which protect Indiana consumers. Individuals subjected to deceptive advertisements may file consumer complaints at in.gov/attorneygeneral/ or call the Office of the Attorney General at 1-800-382-5516.

Otters Sign Lefty Justin Lewis

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The Evansville Otters have signed left-handed pitcher Justin Lewis to a contract for 2021.

Otters bench coach Boots Day discovered Lewis last winter while managing the Manitoba North Stars in the California Winter League.

Lewis recorded a 3.90 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 14.1 innings and five starts.

During the 2020 CWL season, Day said Lewis was the talk of the CWL, as multiple scouts from several teams and leagues were there to watch his outings.

“I’m excited to get the opportunity to play for the Otters in 2021,” Lewis said. “I’ve heard a lot of great things about this organization, and I’m really looking forward to getting out there, competing, and helping the team win games after the 2020 season was canceled.”

The Burbank, Calif. native was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 28th round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft and spent two seasons with the organization.

Lewis pitched for the Arizona League Dodgers and the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League between 2017 and 2018. Overall, Lewis was 2-1 with a 6.08 ERA in 31 appearances, recording 54 strikeouts in 47.1 innings pitched.

He won a Pioneer League championship in 2017 with the Ogden Raptors.

“I’ve had to get a little creative this year to stay sharp, doing a lot of at-home workouts, and I’ve been throwing bullpens at a local field twice a week to simulate a regular-season workload,” Lewis said. “As the year has gone on, I’ve been able to get back to my normal strength and conditioning program.”

Day also said Lewis has a power arm, hitting 93-95 in velocity, to go along with a decent change-up and a breaking pitch that “can be unhittable and a wipeout pitch” in Day’s words.

Day believes working with Otters pitching coach Max Peterson, who is also a lefty, will help Lewis improve to be more consistent and go to that next level on the mound.

“2020 has been an extremely tough year, as the pandemic happened at the worst possible time for the independent and minor league baseball,” Lewis said. “The timing made it difficult to make the adjustments and precautions to have a 2020 season.”

“One good thing to come out of all of this was MLB naming the Frontier League as a partner league, and I’m excited to see what comes out of that.”

 

Marriage Licenses Issued For Vanderburgh County

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Marriage Licenses Issued

EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT

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EPD

EPD REPORT

“RIGHT JAB AND MIDDLE JAB AND LEFT JAB” DECEMBER 16, 2020

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Right Jab And Middle Jab And Left Jab” was created because we have a couple of commenters that post on a daily basis either in our “IS IT TRUE” or “Readers Forum” columns concerning National or International issues.

The majority of our “IS IT TRUE” columns are about local or state issues, so we have decided to give our more opinionated readers exclusive access to our newly created “LEFT JAB and Middle Jab and RIGHT JAB”  column. They now have this post to exclusively discuss national or world issues that they feel passionate about.
We shall be posting the “LEFT JAB” AND “MIDDLE JAB” AND “RIGHT JAB” several times a week.  Oh, “LEFT JAB” is a liberal view, “MIDDLE JAB” is the libertarian view and the “RIGHT JAB is representative of the more conservative views. Also, any reader who would like to react to the written comments in this column is free to do so.

ADOPT A PET

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Azalea is a female calico! She’s just over a year old. She gets along beautifully with lots of cats and has lived with more than 50 (total, on a rotating basis) since her time at VHS. Her adoption fee is $40 and she can go home TODAY spayed, microchipped, and vaccinated. Get details at www.vhslifesaver.org/adopt!

Gov. Holcomb to Unveil 2021 Next Level Agenda

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Governor Eric J. Holcomb will unveil his 2021 Next Level Agenda on Thursday, Dec. 17.

Members of the media wishing to cover both the announcement and the scrum must register for bothevents separately.

Thursday, December 17: Dentons Legislative Conference

WHO:             Gov. Eric Holcomb
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch

WHAT:           The Governor and Lt. Governor will give remarks about the 2021 Next Level Agenda.

WHEN:           9:15 a.m. ET, Thursday, December 17

REGISTRATION: Please register here

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