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Chicago Tribune
06-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Merrillville building trades teacher honored with state award
Those who know Terrell Taylor, Merrillville High School building trades instructor, know he is seldom at a loss for words. That was nearly the case on Tuesday as a surprised and clearly emotional Taylor was presented the Indiana State Teachers Association (ISTA) Minority Educator of the Year award. Taylor said the honor came as a completely unexpected but wonderful surprise, one kept from him by even his wife, Dr. Marnita Taylor, executive director of curriculum and instruction at Merrillville schools. 'My three words: God is good,' Taylor said after the announcement. Taking part in the award presentation to Taylor was Bob Phelps, the school's Career & Technical Education Director; Jennifer Smith-Margraf, vice president of ISTA; and high school principal Michael Krutz. 'Mr. Taylor is a role model and an advocate for diversity in the trades which has opened doors for the underrepresented students in the construction trades industry. Terrell brings his industry experience, commitment to education and gigantic heart to work with him everyday which makes him a great choice for this award. On behalf of the high school and central office, congratulations Mr. Taylor,' Phelps said. Taylor, upon accepting the award, gave credit to his students: 'these young individuals lift me up.' 'He (Phelps) said I'm a role model. I'm not a role model. Some days I'm a good example; some days I'm a bad example. I don't want these kids to be like me. I want them to be better than me. By exposing myself to them transparently, I give them that opportunity,' Taylor said. He added: 'My responsibility being here is to give them unconditional love and I do that everyday. I do that everyday.' Smith-Margraf spoke of Taylor's very successful career in the construction trades before deciding to give back to his community by becoming an educator and helping train students and build up their confidence in the field he chose as his passion. 'Since he has taken over the building trades, it's my understanding that it has become one of the most popular classes here at MHS because of the positive relationships he has built with your students, the dynamic atmosphere he has created in the classrooms and the partnerships he has built with community members to create internships and other opportunities for your students,' she said. Taylor, whose wife, Marnita, was among those fellow educators who were there for the presentation, made history in 2004 when he and Richard Hardaway became the first blacks to serve on the Merrillville Town Council. Taylor said he had served in the construction industry for 31 years before deciding he wanted to go into teaching. He has served as an instructor for the past six years. 'My passion was construction and I found my purpose in teaching. To have those align is more than a calling,' Taylor said. He is also the founder of the Merrillville Education Foundation. The Taylors have two adult children and three grandchildren.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Teachers, Parents, Students Demand ‘Fully Funded Public Schools' at Indiana Statehouse Rally
This article was originally published in Indiana Capital Chronicle. A sea of red descended upon the Indiana Statehouse Monday as hundreds of teachers, parents and students from across the state rallied to demand increased funding for public schools — and to protest pending policy proposals that could shift millions of local dollars to charters. The rally — one of many hosted in recent years by the Indiana State Teachers Association, the state's largest teachers union — came just hours ahead of a possible final vote on a massive property tax plan. The latest provisions baked into the legislation could reduce public schools' tax dollars by as much as $744 million over the next three years. ISTA President Keith Gambill said that blow comes in addition to education funding gaps in the newest draft of the state budget. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter 'The overall funding increase of 2% per year — of $870 million — does not even meet inflation,' Gambill said. 'Our students deserve bold investment, not the bare minimum.' He said teachers will be pressing lawmakers in the coming days and weeks 'to ensure that public dollars are staying with public schools.' The legislative session must end by April 29 but could be finished as early as April 24. All bills — including the state budget — must be finalized by that time. 'Our schools deserve to be fully funded — and fully public — so all kids receive a quality education,' Gambill emphasized. Teacher attendance at the rally forced at least three Hoosier school districts to move to an e-learning day, including Indianapolis Public Schools and nearby Pike Township, as well as Monroe County Community Schools in Bloomington. The shift to e-learning appeared to prompt a legislative amendment published Monday morning by Indianapolis Republican Rep. Andrew Ireland. Proposed language filed to Senate Bill 373, an unrelated education bill, sought to jeopardize funding for public school districts that convert scheduled in-person instructional days to virtual because of 'planned or coordinated absence of teachers or other personnel for the purpose of participating in a protest, demonstration, or political advocacy event.' Districts would risk losing state tuition support for each day of a violation, according to Ireland's amendment. Gambill read the amendment aloud during the rally, drawing shouting and boos from the crowd. 'We have got to talk to our legislators today, tomorrow and every day between now and the end of the session. We must be vigilant,' he said. 'We have to speak from the heart, and remind them that behind every policy is a classroom with a teacher and students.' Ireland introduced the amendment Monday afternoon to make a statement, but withdrew it without discussion or a vote. Chants echoed throughout the Statehouse halls for more than two hours Monday morning. 'Schools need funding!' 'Pay our teachers!' 'Defend public education!' Rallygoers, many dressed in red t-shirts, had homemade signs in tow, too. Banners, poster boards, paper placards — and even painted messages on the backs of LaCroix boxes — were raised by attendees amid chanting, cheering and frustrated yells. Everyone's goal was the same: demand 'fair' and 'adequate' funding for public schools. Gambill said recent changes to both bills were improvements from their original versions. But he maintained that increases to base tuition support in the Senate GOP's state budget draft 'are not enough,' and held that amendments added to the property tax measure would divert 'critical' dollars from traditional publics to charters and could allow districts to 'side step' collective bargaining rights for teachers. Monica Shellhamer, a vice president with the Indianapolis Education Association, said during her rally remarks that teachers continue to be left out of conversations around school funding. 'Indianapolis public schools has been a target of the legislature for many years and this year is no different,' Shellhamer said. 'Bill after bill continued to be submitted to shut down or defund Indianapolis public schools.' Jenny Noble-Kuchera, president of the Monroe County Education Association, further pointed to pending education cuts at the federal level. 'The way it is currently, public education as we know it will begin to disappear, and our children are the victims,' she said Monday. 'We already have severe mismanagement at the federal level of Title I grants for our lower-income students, of critical programs supporting students with disabilities, and elimination of programs for our schools.' 'This is bad enough, and now Indiana politicians can't put their youngest constituents first, and support basics, like learning to read and write, and foundational math,' she continued. 'It's not OK.' Indiana Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Indiana Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Niki Kelly for questions: info@
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Teachers, parents, students demand ‘fully-funded public schools' at Indiana Statehouse rally
Teachers and families attend a public education rally on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the Indiana Statehouse. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) A sea of red descended upon the Indiana Statehouse Monday as hundreds of teachers, parents and students from across the state rallied to demand increased funding for public schools — and to protest pending policy proposals that could shift millions of local dollars to charters. The rally — one of many hosted in recent years by the Indiana State Teachers Association, the state's largest teachers union — came just hours ahead of a possible final vote on a massive property tax plan. The latest provisions baked into the legislation could reduce public schools' tax dollars by as much as $744 million over the next three years. ISTA President Keith Gambill said that blow comes in addition to education funding gaps in the newest draft of the state budget. 'The overall funding increase of 2% per year — of $870 million — does not even meet inflation,' Gambill said. 'Our students deserve bold investment, not the bare minimum.' He said teachers will be pressing lawmakers in the coming days and weeks 'to ensure that public dollars are staying with public schools.' The legislative session must end by April 29 but could be finished as early as April 24. All bills — including the state budget — must be finalized by that time. 'Our schools deserve to be fully funded — and fully public — so all kids receive a quality education,' Gambill emphasized. Teacher attendance at the rally forced at least three Hoosier school districts to move to an e-learning day, including Indianapolis Public Schools and nearby Pike Township, as well as Monroe County Community Schools in Bloomington. Our schools deserve to be fully funded — and fully public — so all kids receive a quality education. – Indiana State Teachers Association President Keith Gambill The shift to e-learning appeared to prompt a legislative amendment published Monday morning by Indianapolis Republican Rep. Andrew Ireland. Proposed language filed to Senate Bill 373, an unrelated education bill, sought to jeopardize funding for public school districts that convert scheduled in-person instructional days to virtual because of 'planned or coordinated absence of teachers or other personnel for the purpose of participating in a protest, demonstration, or political advocacy event.' Districts would risk losing state tuition support for each day of a violation, according to Ireland's amendment. Gambill read the amendment aloud during the rally, drawing shouting and boos from the crowd. 'We have got to talk to our legislators today, tomorrow and every day between now and the end of the session. We must be vigilant,' he said. 'We have to speak from the heart, and remind them that behind every policy is a classroom with a teacher and students.' Ireland introduced the amendment Monday afternoon to make a statement, but withdrew it without discussion or a vote. Chants echoed throughout the Statehouse halls for more than two hours Monday morning. 'Schools need funding!' 'Pay our teachers!' 'Defend public education!' Rallygoers, many dressed in red t-shirts, had homemade signs in tow, too. Banners, poster boards, paper placards — and even painted messages on the backs of LaCroix boxes — were raised by attendees amid chanting, cheering and frustrated yells. Everyone's goal was the same: demand 'fair' and 'adequate' funding for public schools. Gambill said recent changes to both bills were improvements from their original versions. But he maintained that increases to base tuition support in the Senate GOP's state budget draft 'are not enough,' and held that amendments added to the property tax measure would divert 'critical' dollars from traditional publics to charters and could allow districts to 'side step' collective bargaining rights for teachers. Monica Shellhamer, a vice president with the Indianapolis Education Association, said during her rally remarks that teachers continue to be left out of conversations around school funding. 'Indianapolis public schools has been a target of the legislature for many years and this year is no different,' Shellhamer said. 'Bill after bill continued to be submitted to shut down or defund Indianapolis public schools.' Jenny Noble-Kuchera, president of the Monroe County Education Association, further pointed to pending education cuts at the federal level. 'The way it is currently, public education as we know it will begin to disappear, and our children are the victims,' she said Monday. 'We already have severe mismanagement at the federal level of Title I grants for our lower-income students, of critical programs supporting students with disabilities, and elimination of programs for our schools.' 'This is bad enough, and now Indiana politicians can't put their youngest constituents first, and support basics, like learning to read and write, and foundational math,' she continued. 'It's not OK.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Partisan school board election bill gets initial Senate approval after amendment fails
Senator J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, attempted to amend a bill making school board elections partisan to only include a pay raise for board members, but that amendment failed Thursday. Senate Bill 287, authored by Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Byrneville, Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, and Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, would change the school board election process to that of other elections, which would include a primary and general election, by requiring candidates to declare a party. The bill would also require school board members to be paid up to 10% of the lowest starting salary of a teacher employed in the district, which would shift the current $2,000 payment. The bill passed out of the Senate Elections Committee Monday, with many of the Republican committee members stating they voted in favor of the bill to advance it to the Senate but had concerns about it. Ahead of the committee vote, Byrne said the bill is important because school boards control over half of a community's property taxes and set policies for the school district. The bill, Byrne said, would also increase voter participation in school board races. 'I want a person that may have the same ideologies as I do sitting on that board. Currently, there are many citizens that don't know that when they are voting,' Byrne said. 'People go down the ballot, and they get to school board, and they don't know who or the ideologies or the beliefs that they have … and they just don't vote. I believe this would increase voter participation.' Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, voted against the bill in committee because of concerns he heard from current school board members who told him if the bill passes they would have to resign from their positions under the Hatch Act, which would prohibit state and local government employees from running for partisan political office. Ford's amendment stripped the 42-page bill to one page addressing the increase in pay for school board members. Ford, who is a member of the elections committee, said the committee heard from school board members who are employees of the courts in Indiana and wouldn't be able to run for election again if the bill became law. 'Nowhere in current law precludes anybody from putting their political affiliation on any of their materials. So, if you do feel so passionate about that, then put it on there,' Ford said. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said as written Senate Bill 287 creates 'an off ramp to politicizing and polarizing our communities and our school districts.' Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, said the Indiana State Teachers Association has made school board races partisan through contributions to certain members. 'All we're doing here is recognizing that the opportunity for maybe someone from another party would be able to participate,' Raatz said. 'It's happening all the time that the union supports people that support their agenda and so this simply clarifies where we stand and somewhat levels the playing field.' The Indiana State Teachers Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, said the bill will detract from a school board's purpose, which should be to educate students. 'The objective of school boards and of teachers is to educate the kids not to become political,' Randolph said. Randolph and Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, both said given that the Senate has 40 Republicans and 10 Democrats the ISTA gave more to Republicans. Garten said school board members aren't educators but policymakers. 'They are making and voting policy on how to spend taxpayer dollars, which inadvertently is partisan because of the contributions they are taking to get elected to these positions,' Garten said. 'This is a partisan position now, full stop.' Byrne asked the senators to vote against the amendment so that the bill could be further debated on third reading. 'This amendment would basically gut the intent of the bill,' Byrne said. The amendment failed in a 11-34 vote. The bill moved forward to third reading. akukulka@
Chicago Tribune
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Partisan school board election bill gets initial Senate approval after amendment fails
Senator J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis, attempted to amend a bill making school board elections partisan to only include a pay raise for board members, but that amendment failed Thursday. Senate Bill 287, authored by Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Byrneville, Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, and Sen. Blake Doriot, R-Goshen, would change the school board election process to that of other elections, which would include a primary and general election, by requiring candidates to declare a party. The bill would also require school board members to be paid up to 10% of the lowest starting salary of a teacher employed in the district, which would shift the current $2,000 payment. The bill passed out of the Senate Elections Committee Monday, with many of the Republican committee members stating they voted in favor of the bill to advance it to the Senate but had concerns about it. Ahead of the committee vote, Byrne said the bill is important because school boards control over half of a community's property taxes and set policies for the school district. The bill, Byrne said, would also increase voter participation in school board races. 'I want a person that may have the same ideologies as I do sitting on that board. Currently, there are many citizens that don't know that when they are voting,' Byrne said. 'People go down the ballot, and they get to school board, and they don't know who or the ideologies or the beliefs that they have … and they just don't vote. I believe this would increase voter participation.' Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, voted against the bill in committee because of concerns he heard from current school board members who told him if the bill passes they would have to resign from their positions under the Hatch Act, which would prohibit state and local government employees from running for partisan political office. Ford's amendment stripped the 42-page bill to one page addressing the increase in pay for school board members. Ford, who is a member of the elections committee, said the committee heard from school board members who are employees of the courts in Indiana and wouldn't be able to run for election again if the bill became law. 'Nowhere in current law precludes anybody from putting their political affiliation on any of their materials. So, if you do feel so passionate about that, then put it on there,' Ford said. Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said as written Senate Bill 287 creates 'an off ramp to politicizing and polarizing our communities and our school districts.' Sen. Jeff Raatz, R-Richmond, said the Indiana State Teachers Association has made school board races partisan through contributions to certain members. 'All we're doing here is recognizing that the opportunity for maybe someone from another party would be able to participate,' Raatz said. 'It's happening all the time that the union supports people that support their agenda and so this simply clarifies where we stand and somewhat levels the playing field.' The Indiana State Teachers Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago, said the bill will detract from a school board's purpose, which should be to educate students. 'The objective of school boards and of teachers is to educate the kids not to become political,' Randolph said. Randolph and Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, both said given that the Senate has 40 Republicans and 10 Democrats the ISTA gave more to Republicans. Garten said school board members aren't educators but policymakers. 'They are making and voting policy on how to spend taxpayer dollars, which inadvertently is partisan because of the contributions they are taking to get elected to these positions,' Garten said. 'This is a partisan position now, full stop.' Byrne asked the senators to vote against the amendment so that the bill could be further debated on third reading. 'This amendment would basically gut the intent of the bill,' Byrne said. The amendment failed in a 11-34 vote. The bill moved forward to third reading.
