SUPERINTENDENT'S CORNER

* OP-ED: 'LEAKY' EDUCATION BUDGET IS HURTING HOOSIER STUDENTS

* PURPOSE, REQUEST & GOAL OF BRV'S OPERATIONAL REFERENDUM FOR OUR TEACHERS

--- PLEASE SUPPORT OUR BRV TEACHERS AT THE MAY 7 ELECTION ---

* CELEBRATING OUR PARAPROFESSIONALS AND LONG-TIME VOLUNTEERS AT BRV

• INDIANA'S GENERAL ASSEMBLY (STATE LEGISLATORS) DIVERTS HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF VALUABLE DOLLARS YEAR-AFTER-YEAR AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL PUBLIC EDUCATION (INCLUDING BLUE RIVER VALLEY SCHOOLS)

• IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN THE 2023 BUDGET SESSION... AND THEY WILL CONTINUE THIS TREND IN THE 2025 BUDGET SESSION IF PERMITTED

• THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE EXPLAINS THE SITUATION VERY WELL... AND IT IS STILL HAPPENING TODAY!

Mr. McCormick

Superintendent

Blue River Valley Schools

by Marilyn Shank (April 26, 2021)

-- Indiana Coalition for Public Education

Every odd-numbered year when the Indiana General Assembly develops the state's next budget, legislators often brag about funding increases for K-12 education. At the same time, your local public school district may see a small increase that barely keeps up with inflation or even a decline. How is that possible?

The difference between what the General Assembly budgets and what public school districts receive occurs because the state now funds more than one education system. The first education system, the one required by Indiana's Constitution, is made up of Indiana's traditional public schools that educate more than 90 percent of Indiana's children. In recent years, the General Assembly has passed legislation to create public charter schools (the second system), and the state's voucher program (the third system) that allocates tax money for students to attend private schools. Ninety-nine percent of the voucher-accepting schools are religious schools.

In the current legislative session, Indiana is considering authorizing a fourth type of school system through private school Education Scholarship Accounts (ESA's), which are another form of voucher.

Before 2011, the entire "bucket" of K-12 education funding dollars would have gone to public schools. This "leaky bucket" graphic (shown below) demonstrates how that money is being diverted in multiple directions. Although the K-12 education budget will increase for 2022-23, public schools will get just part of it.

If the voucher expansion and ESA initiation in the proposed budget pass, Indiana's public schools will lose more than $233 million in 2022 due to various forms of vouchers, ranging from a $47,829 loss for Medora Community School Corporation to $9.8 million for Indianapolis Public Schools, a district that is already trying to make up for an $18 million budget shortfall.

Losses to public school funding will grow in future years just as voucher expenses have grown since 2011. Vouchers, which cost $15 million the first year, now cost $172 million a year - reaching a cumulative total of $1 billion of taxpayers' money as voucher eligibility has expanded. Based on the experiences of ESA programs in other states, we can expect the General Assembly to expand the categories of students who will qualify for an ESA in future years.

More than 180 Indiana public school districts have adopted resolutions opposing additional dollars going to private schools. When that many public school districts object, it is clear the General Assembly's expansion of privatization options is universally hurting public schools across Indiana.

There are many staff members at BRV who work together to make things function on a daily basis for our students and our district. One of the important spokes of this BRV wheel is our paraprofessional and volunteer staffs who do an amazing job everyday! They come to work to provide valuable support, unique experiences, and special care for our students of all ages, interests, and abilities. None of them ask for the limelight. They simply go about their day with big hearts and positive outcomes.

We are excited to share some pictures and highlights of our dynamic group of paraprofessionals and long-time volunteers below.

* I have been subbing/ scorekeeping/ announcing for around 16 years now.

* My hobby is being outdoors. I love to be out in our flower beds and vegetable garden. I love to travel & hike.

* My favorite thing about BRV is watching our students grow & mature over their years here. Also, I enjoy working with the teachers closely.

* I have been working at BRV for 8 years

* I have been the website and social media manager for the Mooreland Free Fair since 2012.

* I enjoy the close community aspect of Blue River Valley Schools. We are a family that supports one another in tough times and celebrates one another in good times and successes. I benefited from that type of environment when I was a BRV student and I love being able to give some of that back to the classrooms I work in.

* I have been a paraprofessional for 10 years and I was a substitute for 8 years before taking the job as a paraprofessional.

* I enjoy walking at night.

* What I enjoy about Blue River Valley Schools is the bond and impact that I am making in the students' lives by caring that they succeed at school and in life.

* 12 years (9 in the cafeteria and 3 being a Para)

* I like gardening, knitting, and spending time with my family

* I enjoy the closeness of the community and how we are treated like family here.

* Worked at BRV since Dec, 2022

* I enjoy gardening

* I really like working with the students at BRV and building a connection with them. Seeing them smile when they see me in their classroom makes it all worth while.

* Worked here 23 years as a substitute and a volunteer

* He enjoys fishing

* He enjoys working with students and the support the school shows towards programs like the ag program.

* He has worked here for 6 years

* Doing amateur radio

* He loves that Blue River is a small family oriented school and everyone feels like family.

* I have worked a total of 9 years at BRV. I worked 3 years in the cafeteria, and I have worked 6 years as a paraprofessional. I also volunteered in Mrs. Walradth's class before I started working in the cafeteria.

* My hobby is quilting and I enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

* I really like the people at BRV and it being a smaller school.

* I have worked at BRV since the start of this school year.

* I enjoy spending time with my daughter, Erika, and painting and reading.

* I enjoy that it is a small school and everyone is so close. It’s a wonderful community to be a part of!

* This year is my 2nd year with BRV

* The only hobby I have is being a mom to 4 soon to be 5 kids of my own

* Being able to work in a place where I get to see my kids every day is one of the best things about BRV

** PICTURE NOT AVAILABLE

* This is my 4th year at BRV.

* My "side gig" is tutoring for elementary reading and math, but right now I work mostly with my son who is in 10th grade and I find it very challenging and interesting. Many hobbies with little time include- restoring furniture, quilting, and eclipse chasing.

* Mostly I enjoy the students; helping them to improve and learn new skills for their learning is very rewarding for me. Also, the goals and methods used by this district align with my feelings of how to best educate each and every student and I like that the focus is implementing ways that work without much red tape involved.

* I have worked at BRV for 2 ½ years. I'm a Health Coach and owner of Christy Wilkison Well-being.

* I enjoy hosting workshops and working with individuals to meet personal wellness goals.

* Being an empty nester, it's all about the students for me. I am grateful for the job of holding little hands in the hallway as we walk to speech sessions.

* I have worked at Blue River Valley Elementary for 6 years.

* I love camping, reading, and spending time with my family.

* What I have enjoyed about BRV is the staff and the students.

* I've worked here approximately 7 months.

* The hobby I'm really enjoying right now is reading, specifically Colleen Hoover's books.

* I graduated from Blue River Valley in 2005. It was a great school back then... So of course when I saw the opportunity to work here I jumped on it. Working here has exceeded my expectations. I enjoy the relationships I'm making. The bonus is that I get to work where my son goes to school!

* I have worked at BRV for roughly 7 months.

* I run a small business outside of BRV. I make tumblers, shirts, decals, phone cases, and much more!

* One thing I enjoy about BRV is the amazing people that I get to work with.

* I have worked at BRV for almost 1 year. I started in October 2023.

* My little family absolutely loves going fishing, hunting, and enjoying nature walks/mushroom hunting!

* What I enjoy about BRV is how amazing the staff is. So many wonderful people and the kids are so great too!

Superintendent

Email: Trent.McCormick@brv.k12.in.us
Website: www.brv.k12.in.us
Phone: 765-836-4816