Governor Mike Pence announced his re-election bid tonight. Elections cost money
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Tag / Glenda Ritz
How the State of Indiana Budget is Spent
H/T BallotPedia.org
Indiana Teacher Union Membership Up
Indiana teacher unions have gained some members since their big drop off in 2011. EAGnews.org first reported numbers in 2012:
According to internal sources at the Indiana State Teachers Association, membership has dropped by more than 20 percent – from 50,032 in 2010-11 to 39,922 in 2011-12.
The ISTA (Indiana State Teachers Association) now boasts membership at 45,000 which means membership has gone up.
Some districts are still losing union membership. Tippecanoe School District, gave a glimpse in how much the drop off is. Reporting via jconline.com:
The Lafayette Education Association saw a 17 percent drop in the past four school years; membership decreased from 400 members, or 67 percent of Lafayette School Corp. teachers, in September 2011 to 332 members, or 56 percent of teachers, in September 2014.
The Tippecanoe Education Association saw a 26 percent drop during that same time period — dropping from 420 members, or 67 percent of Tippecanoe School Corp. teachers, to 310 members, or 46 percent.
Nationally union membership has dropped double digits the last 30 years.
In 2014, about 49 percent of teachers — or about 2.5 million — were union members. That’s down from 53 percent just a decade ago, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 1984, teachers union coverage was at 64 percent.
Indiana Schools Back in Session: Examination of Their Debt
Indiana public schools are swinging into full gear and with that, their financial books are starting to get published in the back pages of your local newspaper. Most of their financial information from a broad spectrum is posted on the state website and can be found in the Department of Education “School Financial Reports” portal.
The debt held by public education has swelled in recent years in municipalities. For numerous years, Indiana school boards were able to pass tax increases and spending agendas without much say from the public. Since 2008 school boards must get these items on a ballot for voters to decide.
Here are some listings of a handful of school corporations around the state and how much “total principal” they owe. Time period covered is July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013:
Brownsburg $188 Million
Avon $236 Million
Indianapolis Public Schools $642 Million
South Madison Schools $69 Million
Greenwood Community $20 Million
Plainfield Community $127 Million
Greenfield-Central Com Schools $96 Million
Carmel Clay Schools $153 Million
Zionsville Community Schools $200 Million
Fort Wayne Community Schools $133 Million
Rochester Community $13 Million
Seymour Community Schools $22 Million
Vincennes Community $31 Million
Lake Station Community Schools $15 Million
Tell City-Troy Twp School Corp $24 Million
Fremont Community Schools $5 Million
Vigo County School $58 Million
Hoosier Econ 