Verbatim: McCormick education plan, new ISTA head, Holcomb trip, school safety, PrideFest

On Thursday, Indiana gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick released the “McCormick-Goodin Commonsense Education Plan to increase school accountability and academic freedom, ensure academic rigor, and prioritize an education system that empowers Hoosier students to achieve their best results regardless of individual pursuits,” according to a press release.

From the press release: “The McCormick-Goodin Commonsense Education Plan focuses on creating solid beginnings for Hoosier kids, increasing academic freedom and rigor in the classroom, holding all schools accountable, and prioritizing a world-class education program for Hoosier students. The plan will establish a streamlined, consistent accountability platform for all schools accepting public dollars to educate Hoosier children. The plan will also ensure curricular, instructional, and assessment decisions are made responsibly and according to what is best for our students.”

McCormick: “As Indiana’s last elected Superintendent of Public Instruction, I understand the educational realities of today and the future: Hoosiers do not need politicians in their schools. Respecting, empowering, and paying our educators to ensure academic freedom, holding all schools accountable, working with parents and our communities, and focusing on what is best for kids is prioritizing, not politicizing, education.

“At a time when 90% of our students attend public schools, Indiana has sent over $1.6 billion away from public schools and to private schools in the form of vouchers. It’s common sense to ensure these schools are held accountable to the same academic and fiscal standards as public schools.

“It’s time to stop experimenting with education, let teachers teach, pay them well, and allow students to succeed. Our goal is an education system with professional teachers and accountable schools that sets students up for success, whether that means going to college, entering the skilled workforce, or joining the military.”

Indiana Republican Party Chairman Randy Head has officially called a caucus of eligible precinct committee members to fill the vacancy in the office of Indiana state senator, District 48, at 7 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Jasper High School Auditorium.

From the press release: “The seat was held by State Sen. Mark Messmer, whose nomination for the 8th congressional district, and subsequent resignation from the State Senate, has created vacancy.

“Indiana Republican Party Chairman, Randy Head, will chair the caucus. Individuals interested in running in the caucus should contact the Secretary of the Indiana Republican Party to ensure they file the proper forms prior to the deadline, which is 72 hours prior to the vote.

“The caucus is only open to properly credentialed precinct committeemen or proxies, members of the media, and guests of the party. …

“A live stream will be available for members of the public who wish to watch the caucus proceedings.”

The Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) has announced that Nate Williams will join the union as its next executive director beginning Sept. 9.

From the press release: “Williams brings a wealth of experience in union leadership and education, most recently serving as Deputy Director of the Community Schools and Extended Learning Bureau at the New Mexico Public Education Department. With a strong foundation in the labor movement, Williams has sharpened his expertise across the country, having served as a UniServ Director in Ohio and California and as Director of Collective Bargaining & Research for the Maine Education Association. 

“Williams's journey in labor advocacy began with organizing commercial building janitors and airport workers in Houston, Texas. A proud graduate of Eastern New Mexico University and the University of Tulsa College of Law, his Indiana roots run deep, having lived in Lowell, South Bend, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. His connection to the state is further strengthened by his father's tenure as a professor at Purdue University. Nate resides with his wife, Dinica, and their pug, Vince Lombarki. They are also proud parents of adult twin sons.”

Williams: “I'm eager to join ISTA and collaborate with its passionate staff and members. Together, we have a unique opportunity to drive the Association forward, making a lasting and meaningful impact on our profession and the future of public education in Indiana.”

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb departed on an international trip to Slovakia and Italy this week to “further Indiana’s international relationships, cultivating defense and economic development opportunities in Europe,” according to a press release.

Holcomb: “Indiana and Slovakia have a three-decade-long partnership that has only strengthened over the last mission driven eight years. I look forward to building upon our shared priorities in defense and honoring the sacred anniversary of when the Slovaks regained their freedom. As we travel on to Italy, we will likewise build upon Indiana's front-row seat in the growth and innovation in the future of motorsports and life sciences." 

On Tuesday, Mayor Joe Hogsett made the following statement about an Indianapolis City-County Council-led pay raise proposal:

“When I first ran for the Office of the Mayor in 2015, I was well aware of the salary of the position. My consistent position remains that I will never accept a pay raise as Mayor. Contrary to recent reporting, I have always been, and remain, assiduously against any pay raise for myself. I want to make it abundantly clear: if a proposal for salary increases for other elected officials reaches my desk with a pay raise for the Office of the Mayor included in that proposal, I will veto it.”

The Indiana Secured School Safety Board has approved the distribution of more than $24 million to support school safety initiatives in all 92 counties.

From the press release: “The Board voted unanimously to split more than $24 million across 499 schools/districts, which represent a record-number of schools impacted through the Secured School Safety Grant Program in a single year. To date, $187 million in state funding has been dedicated to the matching grant program since it was created in 2013. …

“The amount of funding dedicated to the program for 2025-2026 will be determined in the next legislative session. However, the program has funded school safety initiatives at record levels for the four previous years. Last year, 474 schools split an allocation of $29.8 million, which included deobligated funds from previous grant cycle years that was added to the $25 million allocated to the program by the Indiana General Assembly.”

Gov. Eric J. Holcomb: "Since this program began, the focus has been on listening to the needs of school districts while partnering with them to invest in the safety of Hoosier schools. Indiana continues to be a leader in school safety resources made available. With the help of the General Assembly, Indiana continues to step up to support students and staff."

On Monday, the Loogootee City Council approved a permit for PrideFest 2024 to take place at the Public Square in downtown Loogootee on Sept. 7.

From the press release: “The ACLU of Indiana filed suit in U.S. District Court against the City of Loogootee in June after the City Council passed two new ordinances changing the application process for using city property, rescinded its prior approval of PrideFest 2024, and failed to vote on the new application the sponsors properly submitted beginning in February 2024 through last night.”

Event organizers Timothy and Tracy Brown-Salsmant: “PrideFest is about equality and acceptance, and we are thrilled that we will once again be able to host this important celebration of diversity and inclusion in the heart of our community—just as we successfully did in 2023. We welcome everyone to come and celebrate Pride with us.”

ACLU of Indiana Legal Director Ken Falk: “Pride events are an important way for communities across the state to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, and we are pleased that the City Council has allowed PrideFest to move forward."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced a settlement with Cleveland Cliffs Burns Harbor LLC in Burns Harbor for alleged Clean Air Act violations that occurred while the facility was operating as ArcelorMittal Burns Harbor LLC.

From the press release: “Under the terms of the settlement, the company will implement more pollution controls and pay $248,396 in penalties.

“During unannounced inspections, EPA found that the company was allegedly emitting excessive amounts of particulate matter and hazardous air pollutants from its basic oxygen furnace shop used to create steel. The alleged violations occurred during the process of loading the furnace with molten iron, and when molten material overflowed the furnaces.

“The settlement will require Cleveland Cliffs Burns Harbor to implement new process controls to ensure the furnaces are loaded slowly and to ensure the pollution control system is running at an acceptably high rate during furnace operation. The settlement also requires the company to react to problems before overflows occur and keep liquid metal ladles under pollution control device hoods. The facility will need to increase the monitoring of its basic oxygen furnace shop, report its activities to EPA in more detail, install a video camera to record the emissions from the shop and follow an optimization plan that better specifies the workings of the shop. 

“This large steel mill sits on the southernmost shores of Lake Michigan just west of the Indiana Dunes National Park. The settlement will reduce the emissions of hazardous pollutants to the air, improving air quality in the national park and nearby communities.”

Congressman André Carson, D-Indiana, and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced a $15 million grant to deploy electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Indianapolis.

From the press release: “This project will prioritize fair and equitable placement to fill gaps left in the Indiana Department of Transportation Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Plan, which failed to adequately include urban and underserved communities like those in Indianapolis. It also failed to provide quantifiable inclusion of minority and disadvantaged businesses. Congressman Carson first outlined these concerns in a 2022 letter and has since worked with local partners to advocate for more equitable distribution of EV infrastructure and was determined to support local efforts in the application for this grant.”

Carson: “Throughout history, major American infrastructure projects—like the formation of our interstate highway system—have produced detrimental consequences to Black neighborhoods. While some projects have provided a multitude of opportunities to more affluent neighborhoods, minority neighborhoods have been excluded from that progress and disconnected from opportunity. I’ll continue advocating to make sure we don’t repeat the same mistakes, and I’m proud to have secured this grant to close gaps in Indianapolis’ existing charger network. EVs are the future of our nation’s infrastructure, and it's critical that urban neighborhoods aren’t left behind in the long-term benefits of EVs: decreased neighborhood pollution, tax credits, and cost-savings on fuel and maintenance.”

Hogsett: “The City of Indianapolis is excited to work with our State and Federal partners to bring EV technology to our neighbors most impacted by environmental injustice. There is no doubt that transportation infrastructure has, historically, placed undue burdens on minority communities in American cities. Now, with this partnership and grant funding, we hope to shift the decision-making power to these communities most affected and take another important step toward righting the wrongs of our past.”