Funding our schools continues to be a priority in Indiana, with half of all state spending dedicated to K-12 education. To further support Hoosier students and educators, Indiana’s recently passed two-year budget makes a historic $1.9 billion investment in K-12 education over the biennium to pay for increased teacher salaries, address learning loss and fund important programs.

This record investment includes $600 million in additional funding for public schools annually, which fulfills and exceeds the Next Level Teacher Compensation Commission’s recommendations for increasing teacher salaries. Schools are also required to dedicate at least 45% of their tuition support to set starting teacher salaries at $40,000. If these benchmarks cannot be met, schools will need to report to the Indiana Department of Education or request a waiver. While many local schools are meeting these standards, the recommendations push all schools across the state to give teachers raises, including our own.

Indiana’s next fiscal blueprint also allocates $37.5 million to Teacher Appreciation Grants to reward highly effective and effective educators. These grants not only support impactful teachers but also encourage more Hoosiers to pursue this rewarding profession. 

To help combat learning loss caused by disruptions from the pandemic, lawmakers dedicated $150 million to the Student Learning Recovery Grant Program. While many students naturally experience some form of learning loss during summer breaks, extended virtual learning during the pandemic caused some to fall behind in their studies during the school year. These grants will help young Hoosiers catch up and stay on track moving forward.

Other key areas of education support include funding for career and technical education programs, special education grants and health programs.

Our next two-year budget makes strong investments in K-12 education, while also paving the way to pay down debt and enact future tax cuts and reforms. To learn more about our budget investing in all Hoosiers, visit indianahouserepublicans.com.

Local Paoli FFA students will be able to continue selling pork and lettuce to their school cafeteria thanks to a new law authored by State Rep. Steve Davisson (R-Salem).

Davisson said local FFA students at Paoli Junior-Senior High School are raising hogs and growing hydroponic lettuce to sell their products to the school cafeteria, but hit a roadblock because of certain state requirements.

To help, Davisson authored a new law that allows schools and agricultural education programs to work together without going through a formal state procurement process for food purchases up to $7,500 each year.    

“This new law removes obstacles for students who want to gain experiences they can use for the rest of their lives, which could also possibly launch them into an agricultural career,” Davisson said.

This will hopefully encourage more schools around the state to create similar programs that provide students with real-world skills and healthier meals.”

Davisson said that without this law, the procurement process would need to be open to wholesale distributors, and the FFA group would not be able to compete against them in order to sell their food to the school cafeteria.

House Enrolled Act 1119 goes into effect July 1, 2021.

To learn more about new laws signed into law by the governor, visit in.gov/gov/newsroom/2021-bill-watch/.

Last night at approximately 8:53, Trooper Hurley stopped the driver of a 2002 Buick LeSabre for driving left of center on SR 64 near SR 57.

Arrested and Charged was Megan Skidmore, 33, Princeton, IN

1. Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated with Passengers less than 18 years of age, Level 6 Felony
2. Open Alcohol Container Violation
3. Driving Left of Center

Skidmore’s nine-year-old daughter and three-year-old son were also in the vehicle.

While talking to the driver, Trooper Hurley detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage and observed two empty alcohol containers in the driver’s door. Skidmore displayed signs of impairment and failed field sobriety tests.

Further investigation revealed Skidmore had a blood alcohol content of .22%.

She was arrested and taken to the Gibson County Jail where she is currently being held on bond. Her two children were released to a family member.

Arresting Officer: Trooper Tanner Hurley, Indiana State Police

Assisting Officer: Trooper Douglas Roberts, Indiana State Police

Assisting Agency: Indiana Conservation Officers

Salem’s Walmart recently donated $2500 Walmart for the purchase of trauma kits and the Washington County Sheriff’s Department contributed the same amount. 

The trauma kits provide critical life-saving medical components for self-aid or to assist other officers and victims in the event of severe hemorrhage and/or penetrating trauma. 

Items in the kit are packaged in a compact tactical individual first aid kit pouch and include nitrile gloves, a combat application tourniquet, rapid hemostatic gauze, an emergency trauma dressing, hyfin compact vent chest seals, nasopharyngeal airway, a hypothermia blanket, and EMT shears. 

“These compact trauma kits really can be life-saving.  They will help support officer safety and allow for a quicker triage response in the field for the public,” said Miller.  

In addition, training in how to use the items included in the kits was provided to our officers by the Southeast Indiana Regional SWAT Team.  

“I am pleased we were able to not only get these kits in the hands of our officers, but we also have received training on how to use them in the field.  I want to thank Walmart for their contribution and the Southeast Indiana Regional SWAT team for our training,” said Sheriff Brent Miller.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Surface Preparation Technologies Inc. plans to start work on or after Monday, May 17, to install rumble strips along a section of S.R. 750 in Jennings County. 

Corrugations will be placed and sealed on the first day of work, followed by a five-day cure period for the sealant. Crews are scheduled to return to the area on or after Monday, May 24, to apply center pavement markings, weather permitting. Traffic will be restricted by daytime lane closures with flagging between S.R. 3 and Buckeye Street while work is in progress. 

Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free in and near all work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Temple and Temple Excavating and Paving Inc. plans to close S.R. 335 on or after Monday, May 17, to complete a series of small structure replacement projects in Floyd and Washington Counties. The road will close separately at three locations north of U.S. 150.

The first structure is located 1.27 miles north of U.S. 150 over an unnamed tributary to Richard Creek in Floyd County. State Road 335 will close for up to 15 days at the structure. An official detour will be posted and access to residences in the area will be maintained.

Additional structure locations include:

• S.R. 335, 5.66 miles north of U.S. 150 in Washington County (20-day closure)
• S.R. 335, 0.26 miles north of U.S. 150 in Floyd County (10-day closure)

The $556,000 contract was awarded in January and is expected to be complete by early August. Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free in and near work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.