UPDATE:
Friday Goshen Schools announced that there will be no class on Nov. 19 when teachers will rally at the Indiana Statehouse for "Red For Ed" Day.
Today the school posted the following on its website:
In order to support GCS teachers and staff who wish to participate in the Indiana State Teachers Association Call to Action Day at the IN General Assembly Organization Day, GCS will be closed on Tuesday, November 19. The number of staff members planning to attend the Call to Action Day is high enough that GCS is unable to procure sufficient substitute teachers for the day in order to have a safe and productive day of instruction. We realize that closing school creates complications for our families and therefore we wanted all to be aware of this decision as soon as possible. The make-up day will be on Friday, February 14, 2020.
GCS appreciates the support from the Goshen community with the passing of an operating referendum to help offset the lack of funding GCS receives from the state of Indiana. However, the GCS staff is planning to attend the event in Indianapolis to stand up for all public education in the state. Traditional public schools in Indiana have not been adequately funded, while charter schools and vouchers have seen increases in funding. GCS should not have to ask the community for a referendum in order to help pay teachers better salaries and to keep class sizes at manageable levels, but with the significant funding losses GCS has experienced, there was no choice.
Therefore, GCS teachers and staff are standing up for students, for reasonable class sizes, for more qualified teachers in the state’s classrooms, and for better funding for all traditional public schools
PREVIOUS POST:
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — School days are being called off for tens of thousands of Indiana students as their teachers make plans for attending a union-organized Statehouse rally.
Some school district officials say so many teachers are taking personal time off for the Nov. 19 rally that they wouldn't be able to find enough substitute teachers to cover classrooms. But they also say they support the push by teachers for a bigger boost in school funding.
The president of the Indiana State Teachers Association says at least 4,000 teachers have registered for the Statehouse lobbying effort on the day legislators are gathering for organization meetings ahead of their 2020 session starting in January.
The union says more than 30 school districts have canceled classes or are having students work online from home that day.
ORIGINAL POST:
Today the Elkhart Superintendent announced that due to the number of teachers planning to be absent to attend "Red For Ed" day activities at the Statehouse in Indianapolis, school will be closed on Nov. 19.
Elkhart joins South Bend in making such an announcement.
Elkhart Supt. Dr. Steve Thalheimer says the following about the decision not to hold class Nov. 19:
"The number of staff choosing to take personal days at all levels has reached the point at which we cannot ensure we would have the substitute teachers and classroom coverage necessary for a safe and productive school day."
South Bend announced earlier this month that it would close for "Red For Ed" day Nov. 19.
Concord Community Schools will also be closed for "Red For Ed" to allow staff to participate and due to a lack of available substitute teachers.