By HOLLY GASKILL
Republican leaders have advised to keep the upcoming legislative session brief, and local State Rep. Matt Lehman intends to keep things “laser-focused.”
In speaking with The News-Banner last week, Lehman said he is looking at items largely technical in nature for the upcoming session, and first among them, IREAD.
Nearly one in five students failed the state’s third grade reading test in 2023, and Lehman says that signals something needs to change. In speaking with some educators, Lehman feels third grade may be too late to measure literacy. “If you can’t read by third grade, you’re going to have problems,” he says.
Locally, 89.9 percent of third graders passed the IREAD test at Southern Wells, 87 percent at Norwell, and 82.7 percent at Bluffton-Harrison.
Lehman wants to examine how the state monitors proficiency, particularly in hitting certain benchmarks in first and second grade. “I think we test them plenty. We test kids all the time — I don’t think testing is the answer,” he says. “We’ve got to get a better grasp on how we measure and how we test.”
That said, Lehman expressed a strong desire to take certain things off educators’ plates, particularly regarding reporting and paperwork. He thinks there’s room to streamline certain processes to benefit both sides.
However, Lehman is also apprehensive about making big moves, recognizing that part of the IREAD and reporting processes were established for a specific purpose. “There’s a reason it’s there,” he says. “It’s going to be navigating through that … it’s just a matter of doing it the right way.”
While it’s not a budget year, there will be some items the legislative body addresses, particularly in covering the nearly $1 billion Medicaid shortfall in last year’s budget session. Lehman expects this will contribute to a larger discussion about healthcare and how new budget items are being implemented, like the $75 million allocated through Health First Indiana.
Wells County did not opt-in to the new program, but Lehman says he “totally understands” the local perspective. “(Wells) has a (health) department that’s in flux, and the last thing you want to do for a department that’s in flux is say, ‘OK, by the way, here’s some grant money, (and) you’ve got to put a program together, you’ve got to do these things,’ when we’re really just trying to give some stability.”
Lehman noted that Wells would have the opportunity to sign onto the program for next year. The state has budgeted $150 million for Health First Indiana in 2025.
From his constituents, Lehman said he’s hearing questions about the future of marijuana in the state, given its recent legalization in Ohio. While he doesn’t expect the item to take center stage this session, “there’s a collision course we’re going to have to address sooner than later.”
Lehman also recognized the influence of the upcoming gubernatorial race but hopes lawmakers will stay focused on the items at hand and respect the short session. He adds, “That’s not why we govern, and we shouldn’t make laws based on who our governor may or may not be.”
holly@news-banner.com
