Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. has joined a growing list of more than 75 Indiana school districts planning to close or have an e-learning day on Nov. 19 to allow school employees and the community to attend a Red for Ed Action Day in Indianapolis.
“Given the number of staff members that have requested personal days, BCSC will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 19, and school will now be in session on Tuesday, March 10,” (as a make-up day), Superintendent Jim Roberts said Tuesday.
BCSC will not be providing its regular bus transportation services to any students, including service it normally provides to private schools, on Nov. 19, school officials said Tuesday.
More than 9,000 people from across the state are registered to attend the union-organized Statehouse rally to lobby for more school funding and higher teacher pay, among other issues.
More than 75 of the state’s nearly 300 school districts had canceled classes by Tuesday afternoon because they wouldn’t be able to find enough substitute teachers to cover classrooms.
“We appreciate the effort of BCSC staff members to participate in the Red for Ed Action Day in an attempt to enact change at the state level for public education and hope that elected officials pay close attention to their message,” Roberts said. “The increasing financial constraints that our school corporation faces are many and will continue to present challenges that require ongoing support from our community and state legislators.”
Roberts said the corporation decided to cancel classes rather than make Nov. 19 an e-learning day because the BCSC school board-approved calendar already includes a schedule for make-up days with March 10 being the second one listed.
Additionally, staff members participating in the Red for Ed Action Day are not available to interact with students as designed for the district’s e-learning option.
Roberts said he hopes advance communication of the Nov. 19 closing allows ample time for parents and community partners to make alternative arrangements for students.
The decision by the corporation comes after Roberts initially said the district would remain open despite many local teachers planning to attend the Red for Ed Action Day event. Roberts had said last week in a previous joint statement with the Columbus Educators Association that administration would continue to evaluate the district’s teacher participation.
Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. in Hope has not announced any changes and as of Tuesday was planning to be open on Nov. 19.
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What: Red for Ed Action Day
When: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19
Where: Indiana Statehouse, 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis
Who: Open to the public
Why: Teachers, administrators and community members across the state are attending the union-organized Statehouse rally to lobby for more school funding and higher teacher pay among other items. Legislators will be back in session on Nov. 19 for one day only to organize for the upcoming legislative session beginning in January.
Registration: whova.com/portal/registration/read_201911/
Cost: Free
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