Teachers - The Indiana Lawyer

Indy TV station loses public records dispute against Hamilton Southeastern schools

March 10, 2021 | Olivia Covington

A Hamilton County school district fulfilled its public disclosure duties when it provided information about a suspended employee’s discipline and personnel history, even though the district did not provide specific personnel records, the Indiana Court of Appeals has ruled. The appellate court used its Wednesday decision to call on the Indiana General Assembly to provide more clarity in how public agencies should respond to public records requests.

Indiana teacher fired after sex abuse charges in Ohio

March 8, 2021 | Associated Press

The Indiana School for the Deaf has fired a 42-year-old teacher after he was charged in Ohio with felony sexual misconduct charges involving a student in 2005.

Mom who didn’t witness daughter’s sexual abuse can’t recover emotional damages, COA affirms

March 3, 2021 | Olivia Covington

The mother of a child with severe mental and physical disabilities cannot recover emotional distress damages from the school where her child was sexually abused because the mother did not witness the abuse, the Indiana Court of Appeals has affirmed. However, the mother’s claim for economic damages can proceed.

Indiana voucher plan could take one-third of school funding boost

February 19, 2021 | Associated Press

More than one-third of the proposed state funding hike for Indiana schools could go toward the state’s private school voucher program under a Republican-backed plan that could boost the program’s cost by nearly 50% over the next two years.

Justices take up disputes over teachers contracts, online user data

February 18, 2021 | IL Staff

Members of the state’s highest court last week turned away nine cases on petition for transfer but agreed to hear arguments in three cases, including disputes over the legality of teacher contracts and two media companies’ litigation over the use of consumer data.

Indiana GOP budget plan boosts school vouchers, smoking tax

February 12, 2021 | Associated Press

Nearly one-fifth of a proposed state funding hike for Indiana’s schools would go toward expanding private school voucher and virtual school programs under a budget plan Republican legislators released Thursday.

Holcomb relaxing coronavirus limits on crowd sizes

January 28, 2021 | Associated Press

Indiana’s crowd size limits will be relaxed starting next week after recent improvements in the statewide COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, the governor announced Wednesday.

Holcomb announces plans for new regional collaboration initiative in state address

January 20, 2021 | Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

In a recorded State of the State address Tuesday night, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced plans for a regional investment program that would be similar to a popular initiative the Legislature chose two years ago not to keep funding.

Holcomb’s budget proposal calls for increases in funding for K-12, higher ed

January 13, 2021 | Associated Press

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s budget proposal for the next two years calls for increases to funding for K-12, higher education and broadband internet.

Southern Indiana school settles disability investigation over restraints

January 6, 2021 | Katie Stancombe

A school system based in Princeton that was investigated after a complaint that it used seclusion and restraints on students with disabilities has settled with the United States Department of Justice.

Woman denied higher starting salary ‘because’ husband had a job wins reversal in pay discrimination case

January 5, 2021 | Katie Stancombe

A Muncie teacher who sued her employer after being told that her starting salary didn’t need to be higher because her husband had a job has secured a reversal in her favor on her pay discrimination claims.

Q&A: Here’s what we know now about COVID vaccines in Indiana

December 31, 2020 | John Russell, Indianapolis Business Journal

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has called vaccines the “light at the end of the tunnel” to the pandemic that has hospitalized and killed thousands of Hoosiers. But it could be weeks or months before you can get one.

Holcomb’s agenda calls for increasing K-12 funding, continuing existing programs

December 17, 2020 | Lindsey Erdody, Indianapolis Business Journal

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said he will try to increase funding for K-12 education in the state’s next two-year budget and, at a minimum, restore previous funding levels for higher education institutions.

Justices deny archdiocese’s bid to dismiss fired Cathedral teacher’s case

December 11, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

A four-member Indiana Supreme Court denied a petition Thursday filed by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis to stop the lawsuit brought by a social studies teacher who was fired from Cathedral High School for being in a same-sex marriage.

Building civic-minded Hoosiers: Task force recommends expanding civic education statewide

November 25, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

The 2019 Indiana Civic Health Index called attention to the issue of community participation and recommended the appointment of a committee to examine civic education. As a result, the Indiana Bar Foundation Civic Education Task Force was formed. At a Nov. 18 press conference, officials presented a final report urging a series of recommendations to improve civic education in Indiana.

Holcomb names adviser Jenner first Indiana education secretary

November 20, 2020 | Associated Press

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has tapped his senior education adviser to serve as the state’s first secretary of education, marking the first time in more than a century the state schools superintendent position isn’t decided by voters.

Task force makes recommendations to bolster civic education in Indiana

November 18, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

The Indiana Bar Foundation Civic Education Task Force released a series of recommendations Wednesday for improving Hoosier students’ understanding of American democracy. The proposals include revising academic standards, providing more professional development for teachers and strengthening ties to the community.

COVID-19 school turmoil, teacher pay face Indiana lawmakers

November 17, 2020 | Associated Press

The turmoil that Indiana schools have faced from the coronavirus pandemic will be a top concern of state legislators during their upcoming session, the leader of the Indiana House said ahead of lawmakers convening for Organization Day.

Federal court rejects archdiocese’s religious exemption claim in Roncalli case

October 22, 2020 | Marilyn Odendahl

Ruling the religious exemption in Title VII should be narrowly construed so as to avoid stripping employees of all protections against discrimination, the Southern Indiana District Court denied a motion for judgment on the pleadings by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in a lawsuit brought by a guidance counselor who was fired from her job at Roncalli High School for being in a same-sex marriage.

Indiana virus dashboard lacks data from hundreds of schools

October 9, 2020 | Associated Press

Nearly two months after Indiana officials said they would release a public dashboard to help track coronavirus cases among students and teachers, the online tool still lacks data from more than 1,000 schools.

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