Bucshon, Valley educators share thoughts during Roundtable discussion

U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon, R-Newburgh, wrapped up a busy Friday in Terre Haute by sitting down with Wabash Valley K-12 educators for an afternoon education roundtable at Ivy Tech Community College.

Among the earlier education-related stops on Bucshon’s Friday tour were Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute North High School and Indiana State University.

“We’re here [at Ivy Tech] to talk about the Elementary and Secondary Education Act that’s coming through Congress and other issues that they are having in their role of educating our students,” Bucshon told the Tribune-Star. “I will be generating a report of my findings. It will not be my opinion. It will be the opinion of the educators that I’ve talked to.”

Bucshon said this was his fourth roundtable session in the 8th District this month. Others were in Evansville, Vincennes and Jasper.

“We’re meeting with K-12 educators — teachers, administrators and superintendents — and I’ll be generating a report based on what they have told me are some of the biggest issues that need to be addressed to help their ability to educate our students,” the U.S. congressman continued.

Bucshon expects to submit that report to Congress by late December or early January.

Clay Community Schools superintendent Jeff Fritz, one of the educators who attended Friday, sounded satisfied with how Bucshon handled the roundtable discussion, which lasted more than an hour. Others from Clay County joining in the discussion were Meridian Elementary School principal Karen Phillips and Meridian fifth-grade teacher Amy Hardey.

“It was good to meet with our elected official,” Fritz told the Tribune-Star. “It always is. I think he touched on some high points, one being the 30-hour issue with Obamacare, which boxes us in as educators.”

According to the obamacarefacts.com website, employees who work at least 30 hours per week or whose service hours equal at least 130 hours a month for more than 120 days in a year are considered full-time.

“With the 30-hour limit, if we have an instructional assistant, custodian or cook, if they’re over 30 hours, we have to offer them health insurance,” Fritz explained. “So we tried, because it costs us more, to keep them under 30 hours, usually a 29-hour limit. So that really boxes us in.”

Finding ways of luring young, educated adults into the teaching profession was another issue Bucshon tackled.

“Education is a great occupation,” Fritz emphasized. “But right now, it’s not a very attractive occupation, and that’s unfortunate.”

Among other issues Bucshon discussed with the group of Valley educators: Micromanagement of education by the state and federal government; the busing of students from one school district to another; the elimination of incremental pay; the overemphasis of high-stakes testing for student; and potential changes in dual-credit courses.

“All of us want our kids to be successful,” Bucshon said in summary during the discussion.

David Hughes can be reached at 812-231-4224 or at david.hughes@tribstar.com. Follow David on Twitter @ TribStarDavid.