Fidler addresses Cloverdale school board on state policies
CLOVERDALE -- A larger than average crowd sat in on Cloverdale Community School Board's meeting on Monday. At the meeting, the board heard testimony from Kim Fidler on the recent education reform in Indiana State Legislature.
"I first became concerned when I read the education reform bills a number of times," said Fidler, "I am aware of the fact that there are various interpretations for certain pieces of each law. However, one aspect of these laws must be interpreted in the same manner by all. There are pieces of each law that will diminish, and eventually remove, all local decision-making."
Fidler went on to outline each of the bills in question -- HB 1260, SB 1, SB 575, HB 1001 and HB 1002 -- and her issues with how they would affect operations at Cloverdale.
After outlining each bill, Fidler asked the board, "Is this loss of local decision-making acceptable?
"I would never want to remove my child from the Cloverdale Community School Corporation. However, I must consider what will be left of Cloverdale when it is time for my son to graduate," she added.
Fidler then called for the board to finalize a contract with its teachers now, to make sure the decision stayed local. She sees the direction the state is taking as the beginning of the end of public education and asked the board to act for the sake of the students.
"You have a duty to protect the students of Cloverdale from laws that were designed to punish the schools in Indianapolis and to end public education as we know it," said Fidler.
Fidler works as a UniServ Director for the Indiana State Teachers Association and is a frequent advocate for public education.
"Public education has worked well for me and for thousands of other students. I want it to work for my kids and for their kids, here, in Cloverdale."
The board also recognized several Cloverdale High School programs -- like the advanced placement program that provided AP credit for 10.3 percent of graduates and the school being awarded the Indiana State School Music Association's All-Music Award.
After Fidler's testimony, the board listened to a presentation by a representative of Musco Lighting -- potential contractors for the proposed outdoor lighting on the baseball and football fields.
The board ended the meeting by congratulating and thanking departing members Tony Hacker and James Sharp for their years of service.