He also said the city will move to narrow Washington and Jefferson boulevards downtown.INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana House voted along party lines Thursday to stick with a long-standing policy allowing schools to count some snow days and certain half-days toward the 180-day instructional calendar.
But Senate President Pro Tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, called the maneuver “politics of the day” and said the issue is dead in his chamber.
Gov. Mitch Daniels also has promised to veto the bill.
House Democrats added an amendment earlier this week to Senate Bill 126 in an effort to prevent Indiana’s GOP schools chief from changing the state’s policy for professional development, parent-teacher conferences and days off caused by weather.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett said last week he will require schools to make up a day of school for each day missed because of weather starting next year, ending a Department of Education practice that allowed exceptions.
Bennett also said half-days and parent-teacher conference days will no longer count toward instructional time.
Rep. Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis, said the bill simply makes law what has been the policy since 1987 – before Bennett flexed his muscle.
But House Republicans said the 180-day requirement has eroded over time and argued that other states and countries require children to be in school more than 180 days.
“Not a single study shows that less time in the classroom equals greater student performance,” said Rep. Robert Behning, R-Indianapolis. “Every one of our industrial competitors generally are outperforming us.”
Democrats argued that schools will have to reopen contracts with teachers on the number of days they are paid in order to continue having professional development and parent-teacher conferences. And they point out that next year’s calendars have already been set by schools.
Data from the Indiana Department of Education show that the majority of Indiana schools already are paying teachers for 185 contract days and sometimes more.
“The superintendent is right to push back,” said Long, who called Bennett an “agent of change.”
