Holcomb says again wait a year on teacher pay boost
Indiana’s governor on Tuesday outlined to state legislators how to free up tens of millions of dollars to boost teacher pay but said he didn’t want them to act on it until next year.
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Indiana House backs no test scores in teacher evaluations
Schools would no longer be required to use student standardized test scores in teacher evaluations under a bill approved by the Indiana House.
Indiana House passes $291M surplus spending bill
The Indiana House has approved a spending bill that uses $291 million in surplus dollars to pay for several capital projects at higher education institutions with cash instead of issuing debt.
Franklin College president ousted after arrest in Wisconsin
Franklin College terminated President Thomas Minar over the weekend after he was arrested in Wisconsin “for use of a computer to facilitate a sex crime, child enticement, and to expose a child to harmful materials/narrations,” the school said Monday afternoon.
IU McKinney selects 4 finalists for dean position
The search for the next dean of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law has been narrowed to four individuals who are scheduled to visit the Indianapolis campus in January and early February, according to IUPUI.
Religious retaliation, accommodation claims to continue against Brownsburg schools
A federal lawsuit alleging Brownsburg schools discriminated against a former teacher who refused to address transgender students by their chosen first names will continue with claims brought under Title VII, though 11 other state and federal constitutional claims against the school district were dismissed. The judge also cautioned both sides against efforts to expand the issues in the case to nonparty students.
Commission seeks attorney’s suspension in Park Tudor sex scandal discipline case
The Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission is calling for the suspension of a prominent Indianapolis employment attorney it accused of possessing child pornography in the fallout of a teacher-student sex scandal at Park Tudor High School. His defense team counters that no sanction is warranted.
Indiana law schools buck first-year enrollment dip
First-year enrollment in J.D. programs in Indiana law schools rose 3.2% in 2019 over 2018 while the overall J.D. enrollment across the U.S. slipped 0.27%, according data released by the American Bar Association.
Panel recommends adopting Uniform Bar Exam to enhance fairness, reliability
With Indiana already incorporating two components from the Uniform Bar Examination into its own attorney admittance test, a study commission formed to review and recommend changes to state’s bar exam is advocating Indiana pick up the remaining component and transition completely to the UBE. But three commission members cautioned against the move, saying the state would be relinquishing control of its own test.
Memorial service announced for Valpo law professor
A celebration of life for attorney and Valparaiso Law School professor David Welter, who died unexpectedly Monday, has been scheduled for Friday. Welter, a graduate and longtime faculty member of the northern Indiana law school, was 59.
Holcomb backs ban on drivers using handheld phones
Indiana’s governor on Tuesday threw his support behind a statewide ban on drivers using handheld cellphones as well as a plan to raise the minimum age for smoking and vaping to 21. Gov. Eric Holcomb made the proposals central to his 2020 legislative agenda.
Champions of legal aid, civics education honored at Indiana Bar Foundation dinner
The Indiana legal profession recognized select members of the legal profession and educators, honoring them for their work in either civil legal aid or civic education at the Indiana Bar Foundation’s 2019 Awards Dinner.
Notre Dame offers new Dublin internship program for 2Ls
The Notre Dame Law School has announced an international paid internship opportunity for select 2L students beginning in the summer of 2020.
Former Vigo superintendent must face bribery charges
A former school superintendent facing multiple bribery charges failed to persuade the Indiana Court of Appeals that the charges should be dismissed.
Teacher pay, health care costs to feature in 2020 legislative debate
With the start of the 2020 legislative session about a month away, party leaders are formulating their plans for the short session, with teacher pay continuing to be a point of contention.
Hoosiers active and engaged but avoiding ballot box
Data from the US Census Current Population Survey shows Indiana residents are among the most active in their communities and most engaged politically in the country. However, going to the voting booth and casting a ballot are different matters.
Creating more Hoosier voters by offering one-stop resource
Bill Moreau describes himself as a “’born-again idealist.” The partner at Barnes & Thornburg LLP has long been active in public service, and he now wants to boost Indiana’s voter registration and turnout, both of which have slumped below the national average for decades.
Web Exclusive: Inmates pursue legislative opportunities through public policy course
When a college program was crafted for the Indiana Women’s Prison in 2012, director Kelsey Kauffman knew she wanted to teach women about public policy. But the experience also became a life lesson that gave some of the women a new mission after their lives behind bars.
Thousands of teachers gather for Indiana Statehouse protest
Thousands of teachers wearing red have surrounded the Indiana Statehouse for a rally calling for further increasing teacher pay in the biggest such protest in the state amid a wave of educator activism across the country.
Former bar exam leader offers tips as Indiana considers changes
As the Indiana legal profession re-evaluates its bar exam in light of slumping pass rates, a leader in bar examinations and bar admissions offered some insight into testing and provided some advice, as well as some warnings, about making changes.