Heidi Sellers for State Representative

Heidi is the clear choice if you want policies to help public education and working families.

Rhonda Rhoads: No Show at Another Debate

Rhonda skipped the North Harrison education forum last night. Heidi Sellers and Richard Young were there. Rhonda shows nothing but contempt for the taxpayers of her district. Let's take away her chair in Indianapolis come November 4!

So, Rhonda, why do you vote against public education and working families?

Rhonda Rhoads Skips Another Debate

Rhonda skipped the Lanesville education forum last night. Let's see if she shows tonight at Morgan Elementary. Given she taught there, she probably knows were it is. Heidi Sellers will be there. Maybe this is how Heidi will have to debate Rhonda.

Clint debating No-Show Rhonda?

Education Forums at Lanesville and Palmyra this Week

The Lanesville Education Association (LEA) has a forum Wednesday, October 22 at 6:30 PM in the Lanesville High School Cafeteria. The North Harrison NHCTA will be having a forum Thursday, October 23 at 6:30 at Morgan Elementary. Rhonda Rhoads has been invited. Heidi Sellers will be there. The public is invited, so this is also to remind citizens concerned about public education to attend and see where the candidates stand. Rhonda's record has been among the worst for public education in the General Assembly, and given their policies, that is saying something. She needs to be held accountable for these votes. The local newspaper won't do it, so it is our job as citizens.

Rhonda has avoided these forums so far, so let's see if she shows up this time. Don't the taxpayers deserve as much from our State Representative? 

When will Rhonda Rhoads debate Heidi Sellers?

When will Rhonda Rhoads debate Heidi Sellers? That is the question at hand. Heidi Sellers has invited Rhonda to numerous forums across District 70. She has skipped events in Sellersburg and Corydon to date. Rhonda said she was too busy and could not come. This is despite Rhonda pulling in more than $58 thousand for her part time job in the Legislature. You would think she could sit by her opponent, side by side, for voters to compare and here both of their positions on the issues.

Well, Rhonda has a couple more chances. The Lanesville Education Association (LEA) has a forum October 22 at 6:30 PM in the Lanesville High School Cafeteria. The North Harrison NHCTA will be having a forum October 23 at 6:30 at Morgan Elementary. Rhonda has been invited. The public is invited too, so this is also to remind citizens concerned about public education to attend and see where the candidates stand.

Why is Rhonda skipping these events? Maybe she does not want to answer for her horrible record on public education, where she has voted for vouchers that rob public schools of money, and for the Tony Bennett corporate school agenda. Maybe she doesn't want to have to explain why she got a 0% rating from the AFL-CIO, but 82% from the Koch Brothers.

Rhonda: Its Time to Debate Heidi Sellers!

Charles Allen: Republicans continue to dismantle public school system

Republicans continue to dismantle public school system

The assault on Indiana's public schools began with Mitch Daniels and his man Tony Bennett, but Gov. Pence is determined to continue the assault. Only trouble is, Bennett was defeated for Superintendent of Education by Glenda Ritz, who got more votes than Pence himself, and this was before Bennett's several scandals became breaking news.

Even so, Pence remains determined in his assault on public schools and, for partisan purposes, seeks to undermine Ritz's commitment to Indiana's public schools by using political appointees to personally attack independently-elected Ritz and thus undermine the Department of Education's effectiveness.

Pence has also set up a Center for Education and Career Innovation, a costly shadow agency that overlaps the responsibilities of the Department of Education and four other state agencies. The CECI costs taxpayers over $3 million and is chaired by a non-educator who serves as the governor's special assistant at a salary of $120,000, more than the governor's $112,000 salary or the Superintendent of Education's $88,000 salary. The CECI also employs a staff of 16, six of whom earn more than $100,000 each.

Pence has further pursued his anti-public school agenda through the GOP-dominated state legislature. Its current budget gives schools their lowest funding for the last generation in a year not in recession. Rep. Rhonda Rhoads voted for this budget.

Then, from the already underfunded money allocated for public schools, the GOP took money to pay for a greatly-expanded voucher program for additional students already in private schools, costing Indiana taxpayers and the public schools $15.8 million. Rhonda Rhoads voted for vouchers originally and then for their expansion.

The GOP also continues in its enthusiasm for charter schools, whose students take with them money from the public schools. These charters are for-profit, corporate-operated schools whose performances, on average, are no better than, if as good as, those of public schools. One of Bennett's scandals was that he raised the grade of a charter school whose owner was a contributor to his campaign.

The Republicans continue to work against teacher unions, which provide the only voice for those who actually teach our kids. The Republican legislature has worked to lower standards for teacher licensing, compromising the education, training and professionalism of those who teach our children.

Rhonda Rhoads has been a consistent and loyal supporter of the GOP's assault on the public schools even to the point of using tax dollars for corporate and private school funding.
Charles Allen
Corydon, Ind.
October 08, 2014

Rhonda Rhoads: Ineffective State Representative

State Rep. Rhonda Rhoads has not been effective this years as a member of the General Assembly. She authored three bills this session. None passed.

She co-authored 11 bills, resolutions, or constitutional amendments. Only one was signed into law by the Governor. She did manage to pass a constititional amendment to enshrine discrimination into our state constitution. It was amended to make it not as bad. But, the U.S. District Court, the 7th Circuit Court, and now the U.S. Supreme Court have rebuffed Rhonda on that one.

So Rhonda has passed only one law she co-authored and tried to deny rights to Hoosiers. Hey Rhonda- how about the JOBS? How about PUBLIC EDUCATION?

Good thing is that we have a candidate that is focused on jobs and public education: Heidi Sellers.

Pictures from the J-J Dinner, Part I

We wanted to share some pictures from the Harrison County Jefferson-Jackson Dinner this year. We will be putting this on the website in a few parts. A big thanks to Rachael Armstrong for the pictures!

Sen. Richard Young

Terry Miller, Bob Adams and Buck Mathes

Mike Claytor and Glenda Ritz

Debbie Mathes, Alvin Brown, Deanna Brock, Bill Brock, Barbara Mathes, Chuck Mathes

Ron and Sharon Simpson

Terri Byrd, Dennis Byrd, Leisa Emily

John and Kelly Colin talking to Heidi Sellers

Chairman Jim Kincaid addressing the packed house

The biggest J-J crowd in many years

The crowd getting the delicious meal prepared by Amy Valentine

Franklin Township Trustee thinking about gravy while Marvin and Dorothy Capehart fill their plates

Doris Bliss and Webster Township Trustee Merlin "Dick" Lillpop enjoying the food

Morgan Township Trustee Fred Uhl

Former Auditor Pat Wolfe enjoying the evening

Glenda Ritz and Sen. Richard Young

Reminder: Jefferson-Jackson Dinner this Saturday in Lanesville!

Wanted to add an extra reminder about the J-J Dinner this Saturday!

Please join us for our annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner this year on August 16 at Lanesville High School. Doors will open at 5:30 PM and dinner will be served at 6:30 PM. Our special guest and keynote speaker will be Glenda Ritz, the State Supt. of Public Instruction. It is also a chance to talk to many of our fine local candidates running this year. Tickets will be $25.00 per person. While we will have a limited amount of tickets at the door, in order to have Amy Valentine know how much food to prepare, we ask that you please reserve your tickets by calling Jim Kincaid at (812) 736-2460 or Barbara Kincaid at (812) 364-6938. If we aren't able to answer, please leave a message so that we can get back with you about your tickets.

Please share this will all your friends so we can have a big turnout. Glenda has been fighting Republican attacks on teachers and public education, so if you have any friends that are current or retired teachers, or their friends, families, or students, please let them know.

Heidi Sellers Endorsed by Indiana Teachers

Indiana Teachers have spoken. They back pro-public education candidate Heidi Sellers over far right Rhonda Rhoads, whose agenda has been very anti-public education, and very anti-teacher.

Heidi's Endorsement Letter

New Website for Heidi Sellers

Visit Heidi's website at: http://heidisellers.com/ There is a lot of good information, pictures, video, etc.

Heidi Sellers and Glenda Ritz

Jefferson-Jackson Dinner August 16 in Lanesville with Special Guest Glenda Ritz

Please join us for our annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner this year on August 16 at Lanesville High School. Doors will open at 5:30 PM and dinner will be served at 6:30 PM. Our special guest and keynote speaker will be Glenda Ritz, the State Supt. of Public Instruction. It is also a chance to talk to many of our fine local candidates running this year. Tickets will be $25.00 per person. While we will have a limited amount of tickets at the door, in order to have Amy Valentine know how much food to prepare, we ask that you please reserve your tickets by calling Jim Kincaid at (812) 736-2460 or Barbara Kincaid at (812) 364-6938. If we aren't able to answer, please leave a message so that we can get back with you about your tickets.

Please share this will all your friends so we can have a big turnout. Glenda has been fighting Republican attacks on teachers and public education, so if you have any friends that are current or retired teachers, or their friends, families, or students, please let them know. Here is a copy of the letter we mailed to our precincts people.

Indiana Federation of Democratic Women Stand with Glenda Ritz

And at the Harrison County Democratic Party do as well. Here is how you can help Glenda, who was elected by the voters of Indiana over this unelected State Board of Education. This is a reprint from the Indiana Federation of Democratic Women

In 2012, more Hoosiers cast their vote for Superintendent Glenda Ritz than Governor Pence. Since then, the Pence administration has done everything they can to put up obstacles and strip the power the voters gave to her. Gov. Pence, his appointed State Board of Education, and the Republican supermajorities in the Statehouse have put a target on Glenda’s back since day one. The Governor has even gone as far as creating a shadow Department of Education called the Center for Education and Career Innovation to take away funds and resources from the Department of Education. IFDW believes that our votes should count and we pledge to stand with Glenda. How you can stand with Glenda: Call Governor Pence (317) 232-4567 and tell him you stand with Glenda and you will remember what he is doing this November. Contact the State Board of Education and tell them that you support Glenda and are tired of their games: Tony Walker - tony@walkerlawgroup.biz Dr. David Freitas - drdavidfreitas@comcast.net Cari Whicker - cwhicker@hccsc.k12.in.us Sarah O’Brien - sobrien4cd@yahoo.com Andrea Neal - aneal@inpolicy.org Dr. Brad Oliver - brad4education@gmail.com Daniel Elsener - delsener@marian.edu B.J. Watts - bj.watts@evsc.k12.in.us Troy Albert - talbert@wclark.k12.in.us Gordon Hendry - education@gordonhendry.com Tell your friends and family how the Governor and SBOE is treating our elected Superintendent. Sign up to volunteer with a local legislative candidate so we can send more legislators to the Statehouse who will stand with Glenda. Vote this November! Make your voice heard. Indiana Federation of Democratic Women http://www.ifdw.org/

CNBC: Indiana 7th Worst in Quality of Life Index in America

According the CNBC, not exactly what you would call a liberal bastion, the State of Indiana continues to fall behind in the quality of life index. We aren't exactly moving in the right direction either. Indiana dropped five spots from last year. Ranking 7th worst in the quality of life index is not something to be proud of. Nor is having seen teacher salaries declining more than all but one state in the country, when adjusted for inflation.

Things are not going so great in this state, when it comes to education, poverty, and quality of life. Given how Mike Claytor has shown that the state is cooking the books to make cooking the books to make the budget situation look better, so it is difficult to believe much that comes out of Indianapolis. Rhonda Rhoads and her partisan, far-right Tea Party agenda, which has targeted working families and our public schools have failed. It is time for her to go into early retirement. It is time for someone in Indianapolis that will work for regular people and our school. We need Heidi Sellers as our next State Representative.

Heidi, Heidi, Heidi, Oh! Rhonda Rhoads has got to go!

Heidi Sellers Supported by Paul Robertson

We can all remember our former Rep. Paul Robertson, who represented people in District 70 for many decades, but came up short in the 2010 GOP wave, but still won in Harrison County. Paul may be retied now, but he is certainly backing Heidi Sellers, who, like Paul, is pro-public education.

Heidi was joined by Paul Robertson at the St. Mary's Navillton Church Picinc this Sunday. 

Why are Republicans Against Public School Teachers?

Under the time since Republicans have controlled the governorship in Indiana, attacks on public education and teachers have been constant. We have seen massive cuts to certain school districts under Daniels, school vouchers taking away money from our schools, and the Tony Bennett obsession with standardized tests.

But what about teacher pay? If we say we value our teachers, we should pay them as the professionals they are. Indiana is about as bad as you can get on that under these Republican administrations in Indiana. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, since 2000, in inflation adjusted dollars, teacher salaries in Indiana have fallen by 10%. The only other state that has seen a further drop is North Carolina. We were once at the national average, and now we are below it. Good job Indiana Republicans and Rhonda Rhoads for taking Indiana to places like Mississippi and Alabama in terms of education, wages, and the economy. Let's elect pro-education candidates like Heidi Sellers to the General Assembly this fall!

Indiana is the second worse in the nation. We can do better.

From Our Friends in Floyd County: Bailey, Sellers & Freiberger react to controversial State Board of Education action.

We wanted to share this press release from our Democratic friends next door in Floyd County. What can you do in Harrison County to put an end to these radical GOP policies? Help us to elect Heidi Sellers, Doug Leatherbury, and re-elect Sen. Richard Young. Visit, like, and share their facebook pages to help spread the word!

 

Bailey, Sellers & Freiberger react to controversial State Board of Education action.

 

New Albany – On Wednesday, Kevin Sue Bailey, Heidi Sellers and Chuck Freiberger – educators and candidates for State House District 72, House District 70 and State Senate District 46 respectively – released the following statement after the Indiana State Board of Education (SBOE) controversially stripped Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz of duties assigned to her as chair of the State Board.

“As educators, we were motivated to run for office because of our passion for the future of our state’s youngest citizens.  We spend every day working with students at New Albany - Floyd County Schools, West Clark Community Schools, Greater Clark Schools, and Harrison County Schools to ensure they receive the highest quality education possible.

“Regrettably, constant political interference not only complicates our jobs, but most importantly it’s unfair to our students.

“Our children’s future and college and career preparedness shouldn’t be a Democratic or Republican issue.

“We appreciate the political dialogue and desire to improve our state’s education system, but it’s about time we solely focus on the needs of Hoosier students, not those of for-profit out-of-state schools or private schools looking to add extra revenue to their budgets through vouchers.

“Today’s meeting revealed that the State Board of Education is more interested in scoring cheap political points rather than solving the real issues that help prepare our children for the jobs of the future.

“The last election ended in November 2012, yet it seems Republicans are still in denial as they’re still furiously trying to undo the results.

“Apparently, the election is still being contested by the governor and by members of the State Board who instead of respecting the decisions of Superintendent Ritz as the elected State Superintendent, are attempting to diminish her powers rather than abide by her judgments as a duly elected official.

“Elections have consequences and the State Board of Education should remember who they serve – Indiana’s parents and students – not politicians or political parties.  Perhaps Governor Pence has forgotten that Superintendent Ritz got 1.3 million votes, more than he did, in the 2012 election.

“Our students deserve better and we look forward to getting back to school and being part of the solution – not part of the problem. Together WE can do better!”

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Fighting for common sense education policy

This year in the Statehouse, House Democrats proposed common sense improvements to our state’s education policy, all of which were blocked by party line Republican votes. Instead Republicans voted to:

• Forgive $91,000,000 in charter school debt at the expense of squeezing public school budgets even tighter (HEA 1001)
• Allow firearms on school property (SB 229)
• Allow homeschooled students to participate in sports programs at public schools (HB1047)
• Spend millions of dollars to fully fund the Governor’s duplicative and controversial education agency where staff are paid salaries over $100,000, while teachers continue to see their classroom budgets decrease (HB 1319, Amendment 4)
• Backed out on implementing the Pre-K pilot program after taking credit for its passage

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.

Glenda Ritz: school voucher changes cost state $16M

According to a recent article in the Courier-Journal, school vouchers are costing the state money: $16 million dollars. This, from the GOP, that always say they want to save taxpayers money. And who was one of the biggest voucher supporters in the General Assembly? None other than Rhonda Rhoads, the retired school teacher that hates public education. Indiana has had one of the biggest voucher programs in the country, yet we rank low on most education statistics. Many other moves were made by the Republican controlled General Assembly, which Rhonda Rhoads was the chief cheerleader have been straight out of the playbook of right wing groups like the Koch Brothers and ALEC.

Let's worry more about our public schools, strengthen them, and improve them. You can ask any teacher out there in our state, and they will tell you that morale has never been lower due to this attack on public schools and their teachers. If you are interested in how you can make changes locally, vote Rhonda Rhoads out, and Heidi Sellers in as our State Representative. Heidi is a recently retired teacher that will fight for public schools and working families instead of doing the bidding of ALEC and the Koch Brothers.

Heidi Sellers Facebook Page

Heidi Sellers signs are going up!

Randi Weingarten: The Luxe Life of the School-Privatization Business

Take the time to check out this article by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers. She points out the realities of the school privatization movement- bad outcomes for students and big profits for politically connected CEOs of these schools. Any who are some of the people behind this? ALEC, the Koch Brothers and the DeVos family, among others.

The Luxe Life of the School-Privatization Business