2012 General Assembly

Introduction (11/8/11) - This page will focus on selected issues pertaining to K-12 education and occasionally other legislative topics. On this election day it seems very appropriate to launch this page for the 2012 General Assembly. (NOTE: To the left you will find a blue button, "General Assembly" near the bottom of the list.)

Eastbrook Community Schools In Grant County To (Cut) Staff (IED, 12/22/11)

South Putnam Superintendent: "We've Got A Huge Deficit, We're Spending Way Too Much" (retitled, Greencastle Banner-Graphic, 12/21/11)

Retiring Eastbrook Community Schools Head Says Cuts "Likely" (IED, 12/3/11)

What Is A Caston Full Day Kindergarten Student Worth To Indiana? (Russ Phillips, 11/8/11)

What Is A Caston Full Day Kindergarten Student Worth To Indiana? (Russ Phillips, 11/8/11) - The short answer is, "Not the same as a student in grades 1-12." On this election day (and every other day) it seems entirely appropriate to contact one's state senator and representative about important issues.

Not only is Indiana not fully funding full day kindergarten, it also has no public pre-kindergarten programs. This was recently noted in the article, "Research: Investing In Pre-Kindergarten Pays Dividends."

So, what is one left to do?

November 8, 2011

Indiana *State Senator Randy Head
200 W. Washington Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Dear Senator Head,

Last May at the 3^rd Chamber meeting in Rochester the topic of funding full-day kindergarten was discussed. There was uncertainty whether half-day kindergarten funding plus grant dollars would equate to full day funding for a full day kindergarten program. It does not and let me use Caston School Corporation as an example.

For simplicity some of the following figures are approximate and in the time frame of our meeting last May.

Caston’s ADM funding was $6,200 per student. Since kindergarten funding is for half day this is $3,600 per kindergarten student. Since Caston conducts a full day kindergarten program, an additional $1,029 (grant dollars) were received from the State for each kindergarten student.

In other words each Caston full day kindergarten student generates $3,600 + $1,029 or $1,371 less than $6,200.

Last school year Caston had 50 full day kindergarten students. 50 x $1,371 = $68,550.

Because Caston places priority on full day kindergarten it could be said we are utilizing $68,550 of ADM dollars from grades 1-12 to supplement state funding so that this full day program can be conducted. This is necessary because Indiana does not fully fund full day kindergarten programs.

Your assistance in addressing this problem will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Russ Phillips
1306 W. State Rd. 114
Rochester, IN 46975
www.castoncomets.org
rbpjrfulton@yahoo.com

(*This letter was also sent to State Representatives Doug Gutwein and Bill Friend.)
(Wish to contact your legislator? Go here. Using webmail you can also follow this pattern: "Senator Randy Head" <s18@in.gov> and "Representative Doug Gutwein" <H16@in.gov>.)

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"Mission Statement - Caston School Corporation is committed to providing each student with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to function as tomorrow's exceptional citizens. Teachers, administrators, staff, and the at-large community are dedicated to seeing that the students develop to their full academic, vocational, and personal potential in order that they may take pride in themselves, their accomplishments, and their school. It is our goal that each individual at Caston School Corporation will do his/her utmost to teach, assist, counsel, and encourage one another in making our school the best center for a lifetime of learning."
(Policy # 2105)