As State Rep. Ryan Hatfield (D-Evansville) begins his work as a member of Indiana House leadership, the lawmaker said he will use that post to advance proposals to improve the quality of schools by helping teachers, students and families.

Hatfield will serve as Assistant House Democratic Floor Leader for the 2019-2020 sessions of the Indiana General Assembly, according to Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta from Fort Wayne, who noted that the Evansville lawmaker has made his mark as an eloquent, forceful spokesman on issues of importance to Hoosiers during his first term in office.

That in mind, Hatfield said he would be offering legislation to address problems he believes need to be corrected in our schools.

“I am pleased to see there has been a renewed effort to recognize the worth and value of teachers in helping our children,” Hatfield said. “It is no secret that Indiana teachers are either leaving the occupation or the state because they are not paid enough. We need good teachers in Indiana to improve our schools and prepare our students. To have good teachers, we need to pay them the wage they deserve.”

To that end, Hatfield has filed House Bill 1611, which raises the minimum salary for a full-time teacher in Indiana to $50,000.

“In today’s world, teachers are asked to be a lot more than an educator,” Hatfield said. “They are now mentors, protectors and counselors. It’s time Indiana values our teachers and pays them for all the work they do.”

House Bill 1610 would eliminate Indiana’s textbook fees by requiring public schools to provide curricular materials free of charge.

“Indiana is one of the few states in the nation that requires families to pay for the textbooks their children use in our schools,” Hatfield said. “Sometimes these costs run as high as $300 a year. It simply isn’t right for families to pay these costs to ensure their children receive the education to which they are entitled. It creates impossible situations that force both the parents and the schools to make difficult decisions.”

Last year, the Evansville Vanderburgh School corporation sued 500 people for unpaid fees including textbooks and laptop rentals, meals and daycare services. Families sued owed between $21 and $1,400.

“Textbooks are an integral part of education and a student should not be denied the opportunity to learn because of the price of the materials,” Hatfield said. “It should not be the responsibility of the students to provide curricular materials, but the school corporation.”

Hatfield already has seen some success this session, co-authoring legislation (House Bill 1057) that will allow additional magistrates for the Vanderburgh Circuit and Superior Courts to help reduce the caseloads in both venues. The measure was approved earlier this week by the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee.

Other priorities for the legislator this session include a plan to establish a work sharing unemployment insurance program. Work sharing helps employers maintain their workforce during economic downturns by protecting employees when their hours are reduced due to problematic economic conditions.

EVANSVILLE ATTORNEY JOSH CLAYBOURN HAS BEEN ELEVATED

Jackson Kelly PLLC is pleased to announce that the firm has elevated attorneys Josh Claybourn, John Huff, Brian Jett, Leah LaFramboise, Christopher Lucas, Rachel Ludwig, Aaron McQueen, Luke Thomas, Sylvia Winston Nichols, and Seth Zirkle to Member, all effective January 1.

Ellen Cappellanti, Managing Member, congratulated the newly promoted attorneys, “I am thrilled to introduce our new Members. Jackson Kelly takes great pride in all our lawyers, and this elevation to Member is just one way to demonstrate achievement and responsibility. Well done!”

Josh Claybourn is based in the Firm’s Evansville, Indiana, office. His practice focuses on public finance, utility regulation, and commercial transactions. Claybourn earned his Bachelor of Science from Indiana University Kelley School of Business. He then obtained his Juris Doctor from Indiana University McKinney School of Law.

John Huff is in the Firm’s Charleston, West Virginia office, and focuses his practice on general, medical, and healthcare litigation, primarily defending doctors and hospitals in actions brought under the West Virginia Medical Professional Liability Act. Huff earned his law degree at the West Virginia University College of Law, and his Bachelor of Arts from Marshall University.

Brian Jett is based in the Morgantown, West Virginia office. He focuses his practice on complex oil and gas transactions, drafting title opinions and providing analysis and curative recommendations. Jett earned a Bachelor of Science from Fairmont State University and received his Juris Doctor from West Virginia University College of Law.

Leah LaFramboise practices out of the Firm’s office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and focuses her practice on mineral leasing, mineral acquisition transactions, due diligence, and property and title issues primarily related to oil and gas. LaFramboise earned her Juris Doctor from University of Pittsburgh School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from The Pennsylvania State University.

Christopher Lucas is based in the Evansville, Indiana office. Lucas’ practice focuses primarily on commercial real estate, banking and finance matters. He holds a Juris Doctor from Indiana University Maurer School of Law and earned his Bachelor of Science from Indiana State University.

Rachel Ludwig practices out of the Firm’s office in Charleston, West Virginia. Her practice focuses on health care regulatory and compliance issues and mergers and acquisitions. Ludwig received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland. She earned her Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Aaron McQueen is based in the Firm’s Akron, Ohio office. He focuses his practice on litigation, including oil and gas, complex litigation and medical professional liability. McQueen received his Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, after earning a Bachelor of Business Administration from Cleveland State University.

Luke Thomas practices out of the Firm’s office in Bridgeport, West Virginia. Thomas’ practice focuses primarily on commercial contracts, merger and acquisitions, real estate, transactional matters, lien law, construction law, and banking and finance. Thomas received his Juris Doctor from West Virginia University College of Law after earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from West Virginia University.

Sylvia Winston Nichols practices out of the Firm’s office in Morgantown, West Virginia. Practicing in the Energy and Insurance industry groups, she focuses her practice on litigation.  Winston Nichols earned her Juris Doctor from Duke University School of Law after receiving her Bachelor of Arts from Duke University.

Seth Zirkle practices out of the Firm’s Evansville, Indiana office. His practice focuses on real estate and business transactions. Zirkle received his Juris Doctor from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Wabash College.

National Reputation. Industry Insight. Client Focus. Jackson Kelly PLLC is a strong regional law firm with more than 160 attorneys located in 11 offices throughout Colorado, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Washington, DC. Focusing on clients’ industry-specific needs, the Firm serves a wide variety of corporate and public clients and enjoys a national reputation in business, labor and employment, litigation, government contracts, tax, safety and health, permitting, natural resource and environmental law.