INDIANAPOLIS — Local teachers continue to rally in support of education policy as the state's legislative session enters its final stretch.
Before school Monday, 40-to-50 teachers, staff and parents participated in a Red for Ed walk-in at Westlane Middle School.
Westlane teacher Amber Seibert said in an email the teachers hoped to raise awareness of a loss of $1.5 million in education funding. They also hope to convince their district to sign a resolution saying it will not arm teachers or allow them to be shot with pellets during active shooter training.
"The message we hope to send is that, although we have been taking action and lobbying this entire legislative session, the statehouse is not hearing us," Seibert said. "They are not understanding how dire the situation is. Schools with the neediest students are actually losing money for next year as a result of HB 1001."
Teachers will also gather Wednesday at the Washington Township school board meeting.
"We are also furious that HB 1253 passed by a landslide in both the state House and Senate," Seibert said. "As teachers, we refuse to be armed, and we refuse to allow teachers to be shot with projectiles during active shooter training."
Education funding and policy have been major topics throughout the Indiana General Assembly's legislative session which will determine the state's budget for the next two years. The session will come to a close this week.
