Public Education as a Public Promise

I am unapologetically pro–public education. Strong public schools are the backbone of strong communities, a strong workforce, and a strong democracy. Every child, no matter their ZIP code, income level, race, or ability, deserves access to a fully funded, high-quality public education.

I am deeply concerned about the impact of Senate Bill 1, which took effect in July 2025. Instead of strengthening neighborhood schools, this law diverts critical funding from traditional public education, forcing school districts to make impossible choices. As state dollars shrink, local communities are increasingly pushed to hold operating referendums or raise local taxes to maintain basic services, staffing, and programming. This shifts the burden from the state to local taxpayers and deepens inequities between communities that can raise funds and those that cannot.

As a pastor, community leader, and education advocate, I have seen firsthand what happens when public schools are underfunded:  class sizes grow, educators are stretched thin, support services disappear, and students pay the price. Indiana should not balance its education policies on the backs of families struggling with rising costs.

In the Indiana State Senate, I will fight to protect public education, oppose policies that weaken it, and work to ensure schools are fully funded without forcing communities into constant referendums just to survive. Public education must remain a shared responsibility of the state, be locally accountable, be equitably funded, and be focused on student success.

“Public education is not an expense; it is an investment in our shared future.”