Despite Indiana’s poor performance in education outcomes, Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) Superintendent David Smith says his public schools are exceling.
That was one of the key takeaways from Smith’s eighth State of the Schools address Tuesday afternoon.
During his speech, Smith said that Indiana ranks dead last in terms of the state’s ability to attract teachers and in teacher pay adjusted for inflation.
But Smith says EVSC schools defy those statistics.
"We have invested in salaries for our employees," Smith says. "We’ve reduced central office staff by 61 percent. Health care costs have been flat for four years."
Teachers have staged walk-ins throughout the state, including Tuesday morning in Evansville, to highlight school funding issues.
#RedforEd walk in at Evansville North HS @EvansvilleTA @ISTAmembers pic.twitter.com/XtfRYS4f0S
— Mark Lichtenberg (@MisterLPMA) April 23, 2019
Smith says he appreciates that the walk-ins don’t disrupt classes and agrees that state lawmakers should increase funding.
"In EVSC over the last decade, we have lost funding to the tune of $88 million where we should be, just based on keeping pace with inflation," Smith says.
Smith also praised the district’s partnerships with employers and colleges, as well as its music education program during his address to the Rotary Club of Evansville.