House Bill 1005

February 23, 2021 at 9:58 p.m.

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Editor, Times-Union:

The Whitko School Board, Whitko Classroom Teachers Association, Indiana School Boards Association and the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents oppose expansion of school voucher programs, including the creation of education savings accounts (ESAs).

The ESA programs in House Bill 1005 and Senate Bill 412 provide parents who opt out of public schools with the equivalent of a taxpayer-funded debit card loaded with an estimated $5,000 to $7,000 to spend however they want on a private school, home school, tutoring, and any number of private education products and services. ESAs and vouchers divert funding from public schools, lack financial transparency and accountability, are subject to less regulation and oversight than public schools, do not improve student achievement, and do not save the state money. Public funds should fund public schools, which are open to all children and are a state constitutional duty. House Bill 1005 will hurt Whitko and all public schools in Indiana. Please join with us in opposition of this harmful legislation.

Senate Bill 412, similar to HB 1005, establishes the Indiana education scholarship account program. The Whitko School Board thanks Senator Ryan Mishler for his leadership in holding the bill without a vote, thus killing this bill for the session. However, note that the concepts of this bill are still alive in HB 1005 and the state budget bill, HB 1001.

Our legislators need to hear from us about what a great school Whitko is and that our students deserve public school funding! We urge all Whitko community members to contact their senator today and ask them to vote “no” on House Bill 1005. Whitko School District residents can call or email their senator listed by township below and respectfully ask for their senator’s “no” vote on HB 1005:

• Richland and Cleveland Townships, Whitley County:

Senator Andy Zay 800-382-9467 [email protected]

• Jackson and Monroe Townships, Kosciusko County:

Senator Stacey Donato 800-382-9467 [email protected]

• Washington Township, Kosciusko County:

Senator Ryan Mishler 800-382-9467 [email protected]

With appreciation for your support,

Whitko Community Schools Board of Trustees

Lynn Studebaker, President

Bill Patrick, Vice President

Annette Arnold, Secretary

Georgia Tenney

Scott Werstler

Editor, Times-Union:

The Whitko School Board, Whitko Classroom Teachers Association, Indiana School Boards Association and the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents oppose expansion of school voucher programs, including the creation of education savings accounts (ESAs).

The ESA programs in House Bill 1005 and Senate Bill 412 provide parents who opt out of public schools with the equivalent of a taxpayer-funded debit card loaded with an estimated $5,000 to $7,000 to spend however they want on a private school, home school, tutoring, and any number of private education products and services. ESAs and vouchers divert funding from public schools, lack financial transparency and accountability, are subject to less regulation and oversight than public schools, do not improve student achievement, and do not save the state money. Public funds should fund public schools, which are open to all children and are a state constitutional duty. House Bill 1005 will hurt Whitko and all public schools in Indiana. Please join with us in opposition of this harmful legislation.

Senate Bill 412, similar to HB 1005, establishes the Indiana education scholarship account program. The Whitko School Board thanks Senator Ryan Mishler for his leadership in holding the bill without a vote, thus killing this bill for the session. However, note that the concepts of this bill are still alive in HB 1005 and the state budget bill, HB 1001.

Our legislators need to hear from us about what a great school Whitko is and that our students deserve public school funding! We urge all Whitko community members to contact their senator today and ask them to vote “no” on House Bill 1005. Whitko School District residents can call or email their senator listed by township below and respectfully ask for their senator’s “no” vote on HB 1005:

• Richland and Cleveland Townships, Whitley County:

Senator Andy Zay 800-382-9467 [email protected]

• Jackson and Monroe Townships, Kosciusko County:

Senator Stacey Donato 800-382-9467 [email protected]

• Washington Township, Kosciusko County:

Senator Ryan Mishler 800-382-9467 [email protected]

With appreciation for your support,

Whitko Community Schools Board of Trustees

Lynn Studebaker, President

Bill Patrick, Vice President

Annette Arnold, Secretary

Georgia Tenney

Scott Werstler
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