INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric Holcomb acknowledged Thursday that his state objective of increasing teacher salaries will have to be balanced against the way local school districts are in charge of doling out funds.
"We want to make sure that with the Indiana State Teachers Association's legislative input, that we help identify those sources of revenue that can increase teacher pay," Holcomb said. "But we want to make sure, I want to make sure, that local control remains intact."
Funding for increased teacher pay likely won't come during the 2019 Indiana General Assembly which begins Jan. 3.
Holcomb's administration wants to evaluate teacher pay in other Midwest states, a process that could take between two and four years. That evaluation could set up a framework for addressing teacher pay, officials said.
"We want to do it right," Holcomb said in announcing his agenda for the Legislature in 2019. "We have some ground to make up here and we want to at the very same time make sure we're showing local communities that the state is investing in them."
In response, Indiana State Teachers Association President Teresa Meredith issued a statement: "ISTA’s top priority this legislative session is improving teacher compensation and advancing the teaching profession. We thank Gov. Holcomb for sharing this as a priority.
"Along with the governor, we urge the legislature to take action and provide funding that leads to competitive salaries for all Hoosier teachers. This issue is urgent as every child deserves to have a caring and qualified teacher in their classroom,” Meredith said.
Holcomb is urging the Republican-led Legislature to implement reforms to the beleaguered Indiana Department of Child Services, widen mental health services in connection to school safety efforts and increase enrollment in the state's 3,000-pupil On My Way Pre-K program by 500 students.
In general, however, Holcomb is pushing continuation of elements in his Next Level agenda for developing a workforce for 21st century demands, controlling the opioid crisis and expanding the state economy.
He made his annual announcement at Traders Point Creamery with Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch present along with state department heads and business leaders.
In response to the announcement of his legislative agenda, Indiana House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, said in a statement, “Today’s announcement is not earth-shattering or ground-breaking."
“I suspect most people are in favor of improving school funding, increasing teacher pay, helping veterans, reducing infant mortality, and helping create a better-trained workforce," he continued. "These are easily supportable goals.
“What we do need is bold action from this governor that says we must increase teacher pay right now. We don’t need to study this issue before making a final decision. We need to increase teacher pay," GiaQuinta said.
“What will be more interesting to see is the level of support the governor gets from his own party in the Legislature, because there have been problems in the past in getting more funding for our schools, to name just one thing mentioned today. That’s not even mentioning the problems in passing a bias crimes law, which probably would already be in place in our state if it wasn’t for the Republicans in the General Assembly.
“As they say, the devil is in the details. I’m not sure House Democrats will need much selling. Republicans in the House and Senate might," GiaQuinta said.
House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said, "I look forward to working with Gov. Holcomb on our shared priorities ranging from strengthening our state's workforce and booming economy to improving teacher pay and school safety policies."
Holcomb also announced the Next Level Trails program which will offer $90 million to connect communities through hiking, biking and riding trails.
The plan, which is the largest infusion of trail funding in state history, will offer $70 million for regional projects connecting, for example, counties or greenways, and $20 million for local projects. Workshops and webinars are planned for potential applicants beginning Dec. 12 at Fort Harrison State Park in Indianapolis.
Legislation will be required to achieve Holcomb's efforts to offer more mental health services, physical safety enhancements and policy changes in response to recommendations from an August school safety report.
Holcomb praised his administration's ability to maintain approximately $1.8 billion in state reserves, or about 11 percent of the budget.
Other Next Level agenda items for the Legislature include:
• Provide high-speed broadband to currently unserved areas which are mostly rural.
• Accelerate completion of Interstate 69's Section 6 between Martinsville and Indianapolis.
• Enhancing features of Healthy Indiana Plan where there has been a gap noted between Hoosiers leaving HIP and obtaining private insurance when they gain jobs.
• Provide funding for every Indiana school to offer computer science education by 2021.
• An attempt, which has previously failed, to exempt military pensions from state income tax.