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GOP Sets Next Session's Priorities, More Dollars to the Classrooms

Republican legislative leaders say education will be their top priority in the upcoming session, and they’re putting a special emphasis on driving dollars directly to the classroom.

When House Republicans unveiled their legislative agenda last month, increasing public education  funding was near the top of the list. During his address at the swearing in ceremony for House  members, Speaker Brian Bosma told lawmakers the GOP will support initiatives to ensure dollars are  spent in the classroom.

“And the first is an effort to compensate teachers without the administrative middleman," says Bosma, "and the second  is an effort to cut administrative costs.” 

Bosma notes that for every dollar the state spends on education, 43 cents is spent on administration.  

Senate President Pro Tem David Long says he sees both efficiencies and inefficiencies in school districts around the state.

“Not all administrators are unnecessary though, we’re not saying that," says Long. "But I’m saying we need to be as  efficient with that money as possible, make sure as much as possible goes into that classroom and into our teachers’ hands as well.” 

The House GOP is proposing a tax credit for teachers to help offset out-of-pocket expenses. Bosma says they’ll also explore incentivizing school district consolidation. 

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.