INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — As part of a monthly “Morning Bell” series, News 8 spotlights local schools to showcase unique programs and opportunities.

For November, James Michaels, the new superintendent of the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired sat down for an interview.

Michaels, a former student of the school, is stepping into the role as superintendent after more than two decades since the last new appointment to the position.

Reflecting on his journey, Michaels shared that his connection to the Indiana School for the Blind runs deep. Born with cone-rod dystrophy, a congenital eye condition that results in progressive vision loss, Michaels attended public school initially, but he quickly realized he felt different from his peers.

“As a student, I had to sit closer to the board and hold my book closer to read,” Michaels said. “I didn’t want to be different, and I think most kids with disabilities feel that way. But then, when I found the Indiana School for the Blind, I realized I wasn’t so different after all. We all just have to do things in a slightly different way to reach our goals and live our dreams.”

The school provided a community of students facing similar challenges, smaller class sizes, and resources specifically designed for students with visual impairments. “That experience was powerful and helped me believe in myself,” Michaels said.

Now, Michaels has a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation of students and reinforce the message that they, too, can achieve anything they set their minds to. And this mission will soon have a new setting: the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired is set for a major upgrade.

The school, alongside the Indiana School for the Deaf, is about to undergo a significant renovation of its historic 63-acre campus on North College Avenue, where it has been located for nearly a century. The state-funded project will deliver a state-of-the-art facility for both schools over the next four years.

While construction is underway, the Indiana School for the Blind has temporarily relocated to Devon Avenue, where programs continue to run full speed. “We’re still moving forward with all of our programming and have some wonderful things in store for our students,” Michaels said.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and First Lady Janet Holcomb welcomed a new four-legged member to their family this week, a Miniature Schnauzer puppy named Oliver. 

Oliver, whose parents call him “Ollie” for short, is named after Oliver Morton, who was the first Indiana-born man to become governor of the Hoosier State and helped organize the Republican Party. Morton served as governor of Indiana from 1861 to 1867.

Since meeting his new family, Ollie has met Topper, Indiana’s First Cat, and is exploring the Indiana Governor’s Residence, according to Holcomb’s office. He is between eight and nine weeks old.

Ollie is the Holcomb family’s first dog since the passing of Henry Holcomb late last year at age 13. Henry was a popular figure, joining X when it was still called Twitter, and making appearances in parades, fundraisers and the engagement and wedding of one Republican couple who had known the Holcombs for years.  

From December 2023: First Dog Henry, Gov. Eric Holcomb’s miniature schnauzer, passes away at 13

Ollie introduced himself Thursday on Henry’s former X page, recognizing the Holcomb pup that came before him.  

“I am a little nervous because I know I have big paws to fill,” the post reads.  

IndyStar reporter Kayla Dwyer contributed to this story.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X@CarloniBrittany.   

Are elected officials entitled to health insurance regardless of the number of hours they work?

That question is before the Indiana Supreme Court, who heard arguments in a Perry County case Thursday that could have statewide implications for local officials.

The case began after the Perry County commissioners discontinued health insurance coverage for certain part-time county employees in June 2023. A Perry County councilman, Keith Huck, sued and sought an injunction to keep his insurance. He works about nine hours a month, according to evidence in the case.

A local judge granted Huck’s injunction, but the Indiana Court of Appeals disagreed. The appeal to the Indiana Supreme court is interlocutory, meaning it is occurring while the case is ongoing.

“This court should declare that local unit elected officials who work less than 30 hours a week should be part-time employees for purposes of group health benefits,” said attorney Maggie Smith, representing Perry County.

“Exempting all local unit elected officials from being considered part-time employees will have such a drastic fiscal impact on the public’s fisc that such an exemption should be the result of a public policy decision of the Legislature, and that has not happened yet,” she added.

She argued that state law gives local units the right to not offer health insurance to part-time employees and that’s what Perry County did when facing a fiscal crisis.

The decision impacted 12 of the 21 local elected officials they deemed part-time, including the Perry County commissioners who made the decision.

Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush pointed out that state law says elected county officials are not required to report hours and can’t determine or change compensation based on the number of hours worked. She asked if insurance is part of compensation.

Smith said it isn’t part of compensation at the county level and said counties are allowed to exempt part-time employees from health care benefits. She also acknowledged confusion between statutes.

“I agree with you that these statutes, as is sometimes the case, are not the pillar of clarity, but the answer to that in this case is precisely why this court should not create rights that have such a significant financial impact,” she said.

Justice Geoffrey Slaughter said county council members on the same board could work different hours and therefore one could be eligible for insurance and the other not. Supreme Court Justice Mark Massa also noted there are elected county prosecutors in smaller communities that might not meet 30 hours a week.

Attorney Robert Burkart, representing Huck, said a county can choose not to offer insurance at all, but if they do, then elected officials have a right to participate.

Slaughter questioned that contention: “Essential to your argument is that the county cannot treat elected officials as part-time employees. But where does it say that?”

Burkart said justices must look at a progression of statutes from 1957 to 1990 and to a non-binding attorney general opinion from 1978.

“Basically, the General Assembly giveth and only the General Assembly can taketh away from elected officials if the insurance is offered,” he said.

The court also has to consider whether Huck losing county-paid insurance counts as irreparable harm that would require an injunction. Smith said Huck could have gone on COBRA insurance or bought a plan on the marketplace.

But Burkart said the plans would have different levels of protection and there would be continuity of care issues.

But Slaughter said Huck can receive damages at the end of the case if he wins to cover his losses.