It seems as though my website has gotten a lot of attention! People are talking about the many platform points that I have raised and answers to questions that I have been asked. A current member of the Board of Education has been paying particular attention! She is not up for election this cycle. Here are some things she has called out:
Yet on the graphic produced by the school corporation for their public forums, what are the only subjects you see missing from "potential cuts?? Doesn't it stand to reason that "potentially" only required courses would remain, and anything considered "elective" would go? Seems like a pretty comprehensive list, doesn't it? Using inference (a conclusion reached by combining available evidence, data or clues combined with prior knowledge and reasoning) the graphic states that only required courses would be offered. Notice that administration is last on the graphic of "potential cuts", not by accident.
How about this one -- The SRO (School Resource Officer). Could it be cut?
Of course they haven't voted on it. They haven't voted on any cuts for the 2027-28 school year. However, could this position (that is partially if not fully funded from a grant) be on the chopping block?
Notice that administration is last on the graphic of "potential cuts", not by accident.
Here is another piece from one of her many lengthy posts:
I have been saying this for multiple months.
Then why hasn't the central administration been up front about all of these issues from day one?
Their consultants, Mr. Steve Klink , Chris Grisl, Barnes and Thornburg (who we will find out if the Friends Of Tipton Schools PAC is paying for this "as expected") clearly knew that every business would be affected (almost certainly passing that on to consumers). They knew that farms would be heavily impacted. They had to know that those who own rentals would likely if not certainly pass this on to renters.
I say all of this NOT in an attempt to steer people AWAY from the referendum OR TO the referendum question. I still believe that each voter MUST decide for him/herself how they will vote.
I post this because I feel like the school corporation HAS NOT been as up front and AS CLEAR as they could have been leading up to early voting. I state again, there were people who attended the forum in the auditorium at the end of June (that then splintered into small groups in the cafeteria) who left their name and contact information TO BE contacted and that never happened. It took them over 2 months to get their tax calculator posted. They knew (or should have known) how this would affect businesses, farms and renters and communicated this in plain English.
I still maintain my position, PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD BE PROPERLY FUNDED. This has been an ongoing issue for 20 years in Indiana. It remains a fact that the Republican Supermajority, including Representative Heath VanNatter and Senator Jim Buck, voted on APRIL 10, 2025 (yes, 2025) to pass SB-1. SB-1 granted some property tax relief while cutting funding for public schools, cities and towns. WHAT did our school corporation do from before April 2025 (everyone knew the vote would pass - Governor Braun ran hard on this!) until the time they decided to investigate a referendum? Did they advise corporation stakeholders to contact Representatives and Senators at the statehouse demanding that they restore (from our billions in surplus) funding for public education? Have they made enough cuts in between early 2025 and the summer of 2026 to show good faith to the taxpayers? Are they as financially efficient as they could be? These are questions that each voter needs to consider.
I have been asked, if I was on the Board currently, would I have voted to place the referendum on the ballot. That is a difficult question to answer because I don't have all of the information that school board members have. Even going to (or watching virtually) the forums, there are statements made that have no context. (3 administration positions already cut is a big one. I think I can guess which "administrative positions" were cut, but I don't know for sure.) I am certain that if I leaned toward proposing a referendum that I would have insisted on it being a 4 year rather than 8 year endeavor. I fully understand that the paid consultants believe that 8 years is the way to go, but I know this community very well. 8 years is a lot to ask for. It also doesn't take a lot of critical thinking to ask what happens in year 9, if this passes. The referendum isn't asking for funds for a special building project or in response to a serious security issue. These are needed funds to maintain the day to day operations...business as usual.
I have also seen people sparring on social media about this referendum. I think it's vitally important to remember that your neighbors, the school administration now or years ago, the farmers, the city or county, those on government assistance...didn't create this problem. This is a problem caused by our current Governor and Lt. Governor, Indiana House and Senate. What IS their overall goal? What do they see as the future of education in this state? Do they put a priority on PUBLIC education?
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES. If you are a supporter of PUBLIC EDUCATION, then please ask especially state... and to some degree federal candidates moving forward the critical questions and vote accordingly.
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