The ISD will cut 26 staff positions due to a $3 million budget reduction.
The cuts include teachers, nurses, and support staff, impacting the quality of education and overnight healthcare services.
Staff will take on additional cleaning responsibilities, reducing focus on student care.
The Indiana Association of the Deaf is urging the Governor and General Assembly to restore funding and ensure long-term financial stability.
Parents worry about the impact on their children's nutrition, access to healthcare, and overall sense of community.
Why this matters: These cuts threaten the quality of education and support services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Indiana, potentially limiting their access to specialized care and a vital sense of community.
The Indiana School for the Deaf, a tuition-free state public school, serves approximately 350 students from preschool through 12th grade. The recent budget cuts, amounting to roughly 5% of the school's funding, are part of a broader effort to address a $2.4 billion revenue shortfall in the state. This reduction will lead to several significant changes:
Staff Layoffs:: Nine teachers, four substitute teachers, four mentors and a pair of nurses will lose their jobs.
Reduced Healthcare:: Overnight healthcare services will be discontinued, posing risks for boarding students.
Increased Responsibilities:: Remaining staff will handle cleaning duties, diverting their attention from educational and support roles.
Limited Resources:: The school will no longer contract out for third-party ASL interpreters for field trips and other events.
Jeffrey Spinale, President of the Indiana Association of the Deaf and a 2014 graduate of the school, emphasizes the importance of deaf teachers as role models and the specialized services the school provides. Parents and advocates are calling on lawmakers to tour the school and understand the impact of these cuts firsthand.
Q: Why are these cuts happening at the Indiana School for the Deaf?
The cuts are a result of a $3 million budget reduction approved by the Indiana General Assembly to address a state revenue shortfall.
Q: How will these cuts affect students?
Students will experience reduced access to teachers, nurses, overnight healthcare, and ASL interpreters. The quality of education and support services will likely be impacted.
Q: What is the Indiana Association of the Deaf doing?
The association is urging the Governor and General Assembly to restore the school's funding and ensure long-term financial stability.
The Indiana School for the Deaf is facing significant budget cuts that will impact staff and services.
These cuts could limit access to specialized education and healthcare for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
Advocates are calling for restored funding and increased awareness of the school's importance.
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