The conditions were not particularly warm, not as cold as recent days but still wind chills were in the 30s.  Despite that, around 25 people were on hand outside the Holy Family Episcopal Church Sunday afternoon for a Stand Up For Public Education rally.

Over 90 per cent of K-12 students in the state of Indiana attend public schools.  The rally was an effort to support public education at a point in time where state lawmakers are looking to shift more public money away from public education to private and charter schools.

Indiana State Senator Fady Qaddoura told the crowd that schools should not be a political punching bag for disputes between Democrats and Republicans.  “That’s how we destroy our educational system,” the senator said.

Quaddoura urged the public to become involved in their local schools.  “We need to be engaged as informed, educated citizens, who deeply care about our kids,” said Qaddoura.  “Our public schools are institutions of democracy.”

The rally featured a number of speakers, including parents and educators with ties to local schools.

The Indiana General Assembly is in the process of fashioning a two-year budget, which will have a major impact on how public schools are funded.