INDIANAPOLIS — The state’s largest school district, and four other public school districts, could be doomed under a proposed bill to be considered when the Indiana General Assembly comes back to work this week.
House Bill 1136 would scrap the Indianapolis and Gary public school districts, among others, in favor of sending their public school students to charter schools beginning in 2028.
”I think this bill has a racial component by advancing discriminatory policies that are targeting the two largest minority communities in the state of Indiana,” said State Sen. Fady Qaddoura, a Democrat representing Indianapolis. ”In my view, this piece of legislation had nothing to do with choice and has everything to do to continue to dismantle public education as we know it today in Indiana.”
The bill from Rep. Jake Teshka, a Republican from North Liberty, would dissolve any school district that has more than 50% of its potential students attending other schools outside its jurisdiction or charter schools not under the local school board’s control.
61% of IPS’ potential students fall into those categories.
”We have seen over the last several years the desire of the General Assembly to inject itself into local matters,” said Qaddoura. “And my message to my colleagues is, ‘If you’re interested in local politics, you can run for county commissioner or city councilor to influence these policies at a local level.’”
HB 1136 would dissolve the local school board in favor of an appointed board.
”When it comes to local schools there’s an additional layer of accountability and when you have a school board that is elected by the people it is much more reassuring to the constituents of that community that their dollars are being handled with efficiency and accountability and transparency,” said Qaddoura.
Last week a half-dozen local leaders, including former Indianapolis Mayors Bart Peterson and Greg Ballard, issued a statement calling on IPS to do some soul-searching and re-evaluate the delivery of its education to students.
In order to avoid state takeover, the group advises IPS to develop new transportation solutions while sharing tax dollars fairly across all platforms including charter schools overseen by IPS and independent charter schools, and rethinking the management of public school facilities.
“It seems like its an opportune time to have those discussions,” said former IPS Board President Mary Ann Sullivan. “I believe that the legislature is going to be motivated to kind of look at a lot of these things this session, so we’re just advising IPS to be very proactive about how they engage and it would be a great opportunity for the district.”
Last year, Mayor Joe Hogsett said he would focus on the consolidation of some public school services among Marion County’s 11 public school districts during his final term in office.
Hogsett had no comment today on the proposed House bill.
”There’s lots of good people with good ideas,” said Sullivan. “The problem is there is no place where they are convening to actually talk through the solutions and so we’re urging, that’s the one thing that we are all united on, we want to urge IPS to be proactive and engaged and really try to have these conversations.”
IPS will swear in four new board commissioners on Tuesday night and make a statement in response to HB 1136 afterward.
