IPS, Pike educators join Statehouse protest over Indiana school tax plan

Students, parents and educators from across Indiana filled the Statehouse Monday to tell lawmakers that the state’s plan for property tax relief would be “detrimental” to traditional school districts. 

In Indianapolis, the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township switched to e-learning after nearly 200 teachers called off ahead of the rally focused on public education.

“When I told my students that I was coming here (to the Statehouse), they had a lot of questions and were concerned about what’s going to be available to them over the next few years,” said Chandler Guill, a Pike Township elementary school teacher. “They didn’t think it was right that money is going to be withheld from us.”

Indianapolis Public Schools also shifted to e-learning Monday so teachers could attend the rally organized by the Indiana State Teachers Association.

The Indianapolis Education Association accused IPS leadership of blocking time-off requests to discourage staff from participating in ISTA’s Day of Action. Independently managed schools in the district, that are not represented by IEA, remained open.

Educators and their supporters filled parts of the multiple floors of the Statehouse. They pushed back on measures that state lawmakers are debating in the final weeks of the legislative session. 

Rep. Andrew Ireland (R-Indianapolis) sought to stop school districts from moving to virtual learning when teachers are absent for a "protest, demonstration or political advocacy amendment". 

He said it was disappointing that IPS and Pike chose to close schools, which left families scrambling for child care.

But Ireland withdrew his amendment, pivoting the conversation to the next year’s legislative session.

ISTA President Keith Gambill said the state's largest teachers union wants more funding for traditional public schools and opposes the Republican-led property tax plan and two-year budget which they say favors charter and private schools.

“Indiana’s public schools matter and we are here to advocate for them,” Gambill said Monday. 

Senate Bill 1, which passed the House last week, now includes controversial language that would require local property tax revenue to be shared between traditional public school districts and charter schools beginning in 2028.

School districts are projected to lose a combined $744 million in property tax revenue, according to the Legislative Services Agency. LSA estimates that IPS would lose nearly $14 million across three years.

Pike Township would see a drop of more than $1 million in property tax revenue, under the current tax plan. 

Guill said Senate Bill 1 is “detrimental to (Pike) students' learning and the resources they have accessible to them”.

“There will have to be cuts to teachers and staff,” Guill said. “It’s just a moment of uncertainty.”

Rachel Fradette is the WFYI Statehouse education reporter. Contact Rachel at rfradette@wfyi.org.