The new mayor-appointed board overseeing Indianapolis Public Schools and the city's charter schools will hold its first meeting Tuesday, weeks after nine members were named to the panel.
The Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, or IPEC, meets at 4 p.m. in Room 221 of the City-County Building. The meeting will be livestreamed on government access Channel 16.
Created by state lawmakers under House Enrolled Act 1423, the board will oversee finances, facilities and transportation for schools across the IPS boundary, which enroll nearly 43,000 students in the district and charter schools. It also has the power to close low-performing schools and inefficient buildings.
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announced the nine appointees on March 31. The appointees are split into three categories, listed below.
IPS Board of School Commissioners members: Hope Duke Star, Ashley Thomas, and Deandra Thompson
Charter school leaders: David Harris, president and CEO of Christel House International; Janet McNeal, president of Herron Classical Schools; and Dexter Taylor, director at Paramount Brookside
Community leaders: Patricia Castañeda, vice president at KeyBank; John R. Hammond III, partner at Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP; and Edward Rangel, founding CEO of Adelante Schools
David Harris, who chairs the corporation board, was also Indianapolis' first charter school director under former Mayor Bart Peterson and founded local education reform organization The Mind Trust in 2006 and served as its CEO until 2018.
One of the board's first decisions is expected to be whether to approve a resolution placing a new IPS operating referendum on the November ballot. State law requires that approval by June 30. IPS projects ending the year with a $40 million cash deficit. IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson has said the district is making cuts to staff and programs.
The law that created the board drew sharp criticism from Democrats and IPS supporters during this year's legislative session, who argued that giving an unelected board taxing authority amounts to taxation without representation.
Supporters say the new authority will ensure students in all public schools in Indianapolis will receive the same resources.
Eric Weddle is WFYI's education editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow him on X at @ericweddle
