IPS board will probably still exist, with less authority
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The Indianapolis Public Schools board will likely still exist after a group charged with remaking the city's education system is done, but it's unlikely to have as much power as it does now.
The big picture: The Indianapolis Local Education Alliance is preparing to deliver recommendations for redistributing resources and authority of schools within the IPS boundaries to the Indiana General Assembly, which is already in session and is expected to use the alliance's report to craft legislation.
Driving the news: The alliance, which includes the mayor, schools officials and local education leaders, narrowed its options for how best to govern the myriad schools — IPS and charter — at a contentious meeting Wednesday afternoon.
- Keeping the system largely unchanged is not one of the options.
- Instead, the alliance will consider governance structures that would have IPS' elected board answering to a larger board for things including accountability, facility management and transportation services.
Friction point: Many of those who attended the meeting for public comment supported keeping the elected IPS board in place and, in some cases, expanding its authority.
- Charter school advocates, though, pushed for independent authorities governing facility and transportation services.
What they're saying: "I do not deny that our Statehouse leadership has made it very clear that we must do something or else," IPS superintendent Aleesia Johnson said. "But that should not change our commitment to ensuring that our community's voice is not diminished."
- Last legislative session, lawmakers filed a bill that would have dissolved the district in an effort to force IPS into sharing more resources with charter schools.
State of play: Alliance members say they haven't made any final decisions yet about the recommendations they'll make to lawmakers, but they've narrowed it down to two options, which are a blend of independent boards and collaborative groups with representatives from all concerned parties.
What's next: The alliance will hold public listening sessions Dec. 10 at 6pm and Dec. 15 at 2pm.
- It will adopt formal recommendations for the Indiana General Assembly at a meeting on Dec. 17.