Indiana Republicans Refuse to Respect Voters

Republicans in Indiana must not think much of democracy. Despite her win over former school chief Tony Bennett, who was recently fined $5,000 by the State Ethics Commission, the Pence appointed State School Board, voted to take more power away from Glenda Ritz.

Here is a bit from a recent Courier-Journal article:

She continued to say that the resolution was wasteful and that it suggested that the Department of Education was not doing its job. But board member Dan Elsener said board’s battles with the superintendent have “never been personal and it’s never been political.” The crowd groaned and laughed.

“I reject this resolution,” Ritz said, and ruled it was “out of order.”
After a few minutes of disagreement between Ritz’s attorney and the board’s attorney, her decision was appealed and overruled by a 7-3 vote. The board also passed a resolution to change board procedures, which outraged Ritz’s supporters in the audience.

“There are many of us in the state, 1.3 million that voted for Superintendent Ritz,” said Lynn Richard Nelson, a retired professor of history education. “And we do not share your educational philosophy.”

The resolution would allow board members to set meeting times and add items to the agenda more easily, without the approval of the chair. “The public deserves to comment,” said board member Andrea Neal. “This resolution makes it too easy to add last-minute items.” Ritz said the resolution was “especially insulting” to her.

Vic Smith — a former educator who tracks school policy — said the resolution is a “political move to reduce the powers of the state elected superintendent.” Neal urged board members to vote against the resolution, but it passed 7-3. Raised voices and eye rolling led to a 10-minute recess before the board continued on with less controversial business.

After the meeting, House Minority Leader Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City, said it’s “getting beyond tiresome to see monthly power grabs.” “This nonsense must stop … but it won’t,” Pelath said. “The board will continue to pick away and pick away until there is no way for Hoosiers to have a say in the way their children are educated.”

It is about time that the radical Tony Bennett policies, rejected by Indiana voters, go to the dustbin of history. These policies have lowered moral among teachers in our state to record low levels. It should be noted that Rhonda Rhoads, the anti-public education retired teacher, backed the entire Bennett agenda, including vouchers and reducing money to public education. One thing we can do to send a message in November is to send a pro-public education teacher to the Statehouse in the fall. That person is Heidi Sellers. Like and share her facebook page to help get the message out, and to throw out Rhonda Rhoads.