Indiana

School funding debate hits the Statehouse • Indiana Capital Chronicle

Published

11 months ago

February 3, 2025

School funding debate hits the Statehouse • Indiana Capital Chronicle

Funding nearly every Hoosier child’s K-12 education appears to be the goal of the Indiana state legislature. While this may be an admirable effort, the question is, should we? More importantly, can we afford it?

What is the state’s responsibility?

Under Article 8, Section 1 of Indiana’s state constitution, all children are guaranteed the right to “a general and uniform system of Common Schools, wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all.” Instead of focusing on this duty and funding public education, our state legislature has been pursuing what it calls “school choice.” Hoosiers have always had the choice to go to private schools, but now, thanks to legislation, the public pays for much of it. The public never voted for school choice.

Open to all?

Public schools serve every child who walks through their doors–regardless of background or ability. Nearly 90% of Hoosier families choose public schools. Yet, Indiana is now seen by “school choice” advocates as a model state with public tax dollars siphoned away to privately managed schools. Indiana’s families now have over 300 private schools to choose from in which public funds can be used to help pay for tuition. However, these various “choices” do not actually allow all families to do the choosing. Many private schools can and do deny students based on gender, developmental ability, religion, LGBTQIA+ status or entrance exams. Even if “the money follows the child” in Indiana, the student’s rights (under federal law) do not always do so. Is this “equally open to all?”

Separate but equal?

Originally sold to the public as a means by which children in poverty could “escape failing public schools,” the Indiana Choice Scholarship or voucher program is now nearly universal. A Choice Scholarship — the largest voucher program in Indiana — is around $6,000+ per child.

The average voucher student is now a white, elementary-aged girl who lives in a metropolitan area and comes from a household of around 4.7 people making around $100,000, according to an IDOE report. The legislators’ plan to remove all income requirements will transform the voucher program into something unrecognizable from its 2011 origins and what was first sold to the public. This shift is evident in the numerous schools where 100% of students now use vouchers to help pay for tuition. We Hoosiers are funding two separate K-12 school systems (three, if you include charter schools). Small rural communities are particularly burdened by this effort by paying for “choice” with their tax dollars when there actually is no choice other than their public schools in their communities.

Who pays?

Despite educating significantly more students in hundreds more schools than in 2010, Indiana’s inflation-adjusted education funding has decreased dramatically. One researcher estimates a $603 million reduction on a per student basis. This has resulted in program cuts, an overreliance on grants, public school closures (some replaced by charter schools, which don’t improve the financial picture), teacher salaries lower than those in neighboring states, and repeated property tax referenda. The resulting disparity of programming and offerings for students is not a uniform system–nor is it fair to Hoosier children. Indiana’s ranking has dropped to 37th nationally in per-pupil funding. Furthermore, from 2002 to 2020, Indiana had the second-lowest inflation-adjusted increase in education spending nationwide at a mere 1.9%. This underinvestment in education will have lasting consequences for Indiana’s future.

A budget reflects our priorities.

The first iteration of the state’s budget bill (HB 1001) estimates the cost of universal vouchers at nearly $100 million more per year, pushing the expense closer to $600 million annually. Meanwhile, a handful of tax-cut bills threaten the budgets of our public schools. Is it fair to force communities to raise taxes for education through referendums while simultaneously diverting public funds to private school vouchers? What about communities that are unable to do so? The Indiana legislature has a constitutional duty to fund public education. Laws pertaining to our public schools ensure that they are accountable and transparent with Hoosier tax dollars. There are no such laws for voucher schools.

Every child deserves a school that is fully funded and provides them with all they need to thrive. An entitlement program for the wealthy to pay private school tuition should not come at the cost of our most vulnerable children. When it comes to our kids’ future, we can’t afford it.

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Indiana

Indiana’s first underground cheese cave in St. Joseph County

Published

6 days ago

December 29, 2025

Press Room

Indiana’s first underground cheese cave in St. Joseph County

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY (WSBT) — A unique way to age cheese is happening in St. Joseph county, where Indiana’s first underground cheese cave is located.

A family-owned business called J2K Capraio handcrafts and ages varieties of both goat and cow milk cheese in the underground cave.

Each year, they age thousands of pounds of cheese, Joe Klinedinst is one of the owners overseeing the process.

In Walkerton, the family, we were fortunate enough to build through the help of different mentors throughout the country, but built Indiana’s first underground cheese cave. There we age between 20 and 25 thousand pounds of cheese per year in some years more, said Klinedinst.

The cave is naturally cooled, developing the rind and flavors of the cheese as it ages.

This process can take months or even years.

“In this underground cave it’s naturally cooled you’re getting the flavors of the earth and the natural terrar of our area and we’re able to do cheeses that are aged anywhere from 90 days all the way up to two to three years,” said Klinedinst.

It’s a slightly different process than how cheese is normally aged or made.

So this cave allows you to not have air being blown as in it’s not a walk-in cooler kind of situation, it’s just the natural temperature of the earth which is perfect for the cheese so it ages up more consistent a little bit slower, said Klinedinst.

The method creates a distinct taste in the cave-aged cheeses, retaining flavors from the natural terrain of the area, which is one of the reasons the family chose to build the cave.

And then you also pull the flavors, I know it sounds odd but from the walls in the earth, and as soon as you bite into a cheese that’s been aged in a cave or a different type of facility you know it as soon as you do, and that’s what led us to the cave, said Klinedinst.

The local family owned business has been selling their products in the South Bend area for 20-years.

They started at the South Bend Farmer’s market, but now operate the Artesian deli and cheese stop Oh Mamma’s on the Avenue where they sell these cave-aged cheeses in wheels, half wheels, or small blocks or wedges.

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Indiana

Alabama defense gets big boost, has thoughts on facing Indiana’s Heisman winner

Published

6 days ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

Alabama defense gets big boost, has thoughts on facing Indiana’s Heisman winner

Alabama’s defense has a lot on its plate.

There aren’t many weaknesses that pop off the page when studying the Indiana offense they will face in Thursday’s Rose Bowl.

The Crimson Tide will get a boost with the return of a key piece of its front seven, who has been missing the last few weeks. Starting defensive end LT Overton is back at practice after missing the last two games with an undisclosed illness.

“I think it’s a tremendous blessing for our team,” defensive coordinator Kane Wommack said Sunday. “It’s awesome for us. He obviously needs to have a good couple of days here, but he’s certainly on track. To have him in this game, his experience and his excitement of wanting to get back on the field … he’s an ultimate competitor.”

Overton has four sacks — second most on the team — among his 35 tackles this season.

Wommack said Overton’s ability to stay in shape while missing the SEC title game and CFP opener was crucial in his ability to return.

“He looks great now,” Wommack said.

Alabama found success getting to the quarterback in the CFP first-round win over Oklahoma with a season-high five sacks, but Indiana will be a whole different beast. The Hoosiers allow just 1.39 sacks a game in an offense that’s balanced and explosive.

It has Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the nation’s No. 10 rushing offense, averaging 221.2 yards per game.

Wommack, previously a linebacker coach and defensive coordinator at Indiana from 2019-20, said this Hoosier offense is as disciplined and as detailed as any offense Alabama’s seen.

“Offensively, I think they’re highly efficient, very explosive,” Wommack said. “That starts with their quarterback. He knows where to go with the ball. He’s very decisive, makes great decisions with the ball and can. Can make all the throws and can make the explosive plays when it matters most … I think their physicality shows up on tape. They play the game physically from an offensive line standpoint.”

The efficiency is clear on paper.

Indiana’s No. 4 nationally in points per play (0.578), No. 6 in yards per play (6.7) and No. 1 in third-down conversions (55.8%).

Cornerback Zabien Brown noted the care Indiana takes with preserving possession.

“Facing an opponent that does a great job of taking care of the ball really puts more stress reading our keys,” Brown said, “and trusting being able to pull the trigger and make plays in that smaller margin when opportunities pop up.

The Hoosiers’ eight turnovers in 13 games are tied for the third fewest in the nation. That includes just one lost fumble that occurred in the season opener, Aug. 30, in a win over Old Dominion.

Alabama has 20 takeaways, the 32nd most, with 11 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries.

Facing Mendoza in the first game since winning the Heisman Trophy sounds like a motivating factor in Tuscaloosa.

“He’s a man, just like me,” defensive lineman Tim Keenan said. “But he’s a great Heisman winner. He put himself in the position to get the accolades, so we’re going to make sure we do what we need to do to play our game.”

Brown, who intercepted a pass at Oklahoma and returned it for a touchdown, said Mendoza “is definitely the best quarterback we’ve faced all year.”

And Keon Sabb, an Alabama safety, was brief in his remarks when asked about Mendoza.

“He’s a really good player, whether he won the Heisman or not,” Sabb said. “Congrats to him for winning that, but we’re going to play our game.”

Alabama and Indiana kick off in the Rose Bowl quarterfinal at 3 p.m. CT Thursday in Pasadena. The winner advances to the Peach Bowl semifinal on Jan. 9 in Atlanta.

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Indiana

Indiana visits Houston on 4-game road skid

Published

7 days ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

Indiana Pacers (6-26, 15th in the Eastern Conference) vs. Houston Rockets (19-10, fourth in the Western Conference)

Houston; Monday, 8 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: Indiana visits Houston looking to stop its four-game road skid.

The Rockets are 9-2 on their home court. Houston is 8-1 when it wins the turnover battle and averages 15.1 turnovers per game.

The Pacers are 1-14 in road games. Indiana gives up 119.2 points to opponents and has been outscored by 9.4 points per game.

The Rockets are shooting 48.9% from the field this season, 0.9 percentage points higher than the 48.0% the Pacers allow to opponents. The Pacers’ 43.3% shooting percentage from the field this season is 2.9 percentage points lower than the Rockets have given up to their opponents (46.2%).

TOP PERFORMERS: Alperen Sengun is averaging 22.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.5 steals for the Rockets. Kevin Durant is averaging 30 points and seven assists over the past 10 games.

Pascal Siakam is averaging 23.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists for the Pacers. Bennedict Mathurin is averaging 25.0 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rockets: 5-5, averaging 117.7 points, 46.7 rebounds, 26.3 assists, 8.1 steals and 6.2 blocks per game while shooting 50.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 114.4 points per game.

Pacers: 2-8, averaging 107.9 points, 41.3 rebounds, 24.3 assists, 7.3 steals and 5.1 blocks per game while shooting 44.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.1 points.

INJURIES: Rockets: Alperen Sengun: day to day (calf), Fred VanVleet: out for season (acl).

Pacers: Obi Toppin: out (foot), Ben Sheppard: day to day (calf), Isaiah Jackson: day to day (concussion), Tyrese Haliburton: out for season (achilles), T.J. McConnell: day to day (hamstring).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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