Franklin Township Schools reverses stance, backs controversial Google data center days before vote

This article was published as part of a partnership between Chalkbeat Indiana, WFYI, and Mirror Indy to increase coverage of township school districts in Marion County.

Less than a week before a vote that could determine the fate of a controversial data center campus in southeast Indianapolis, the local school district has come out in support of Google's plan.

Franklin Township Community Schools previously opposed letting the tech giant turn almost 500 acres of farmland into a data center campus. This week, the superintendent said he welcomes the campus as a way to expand the commercial tax base to help fund the district.

"With the city and Google stepping forward as partners willing to listen and adapt, we believe this project represents the right kind of growth for Franklin Township," the statement from Franklin Township schools said, announcing the district will partner with Google on programs about education, digital literacy and STEM. 

The campus is designed to expand Google's data capacity amid growing demand for artificial intelligence. Residents argue the data center would harm their community, water supply and environment.

Michael-Paul Hart, the Indianapolis City-County councilor who represents the district where the data center would be built, has argued the project would not provide the recurring tax base needed to fund education and infrastructure as Franklin Township grows.

But Franklin Township Schools Superintendent Chase Huotari refuted that argument in an email to families shared with WFYI. Huotari wrote there is a "misconception" about Google not contributing to the local tax base.

"... my role is to advocate financially to ensure we receive the resources we need to support our students and staff," he said in the message. "I would not have supported this project if it had not been the best financial decision for FTCSC."

The district has experienced steady growth over the past two decades as enrollment increased by more than 40 percent. Today, around 11,200 students attend the schools.

The district is expected to lose about $2.4 million in local property tax revenue in 2026 and 2027 due to Gov. Mike Braun's property tax relief plan. Those local funds pay for transportation, facilities and utilities. 

Councilor Hart and several residents have accused the school district of "selling out" to Google by trading public support for a partnership with the California-based company.

"Franklin Township Superintendent sold out to Google for an undisclosed amount," Councilor Hart wrote on X. "Refused to inform me of the amount received from Google. Claimed he can't say because he signed an NDA." 

WFYI could not verify Hart's claim about the non-disclosure agreement. The school district did not respond Tuesday to a request for comment.

WFYI previously reported that Hart himself signed a non-disclosure agreement related to the project. He told WFYI in June that he signed the NDA for one reason: to be included in the conversation. 

"I talked to some folks, and then I had like two opinions, right? One's telling me, 'Don't do it. It's public, you know, that should be open, and all these things,'" Hart said.

"And the other is saying, 'Well, you're not going to be in the conversation if you don't sign it.'" 

Residents stand firm despite Google's campaign to win allies 

Local organizers with Protect Franklin Township, the group leading the opposition against Google's data center, wrote on Facebook that "disappointed is an understatement" after the school district  endorsed Google’s project. 

"The school system was originally against the data center, but after private meetings, it appears their stance has changed," the group wrote.

As of publication, Google did not respond to a request for comment on whether the school district itself or employees signed any non-disclosure agreement or received any compensation in exchange for support for the project.
 

Meredith Sharp, who organizes against the data center with the community group Protect Franklin Township, said the school funding problem isn't the district's fault but partnering with Google isn't the answer.

Sharp added that generous, state-level tax abatements for data centers only deepen the problem, since they limit what the project would contribute locally.

Local organizers like Sharp say they intend to keep the pressure ahead of the Monday hearing, and are planning a demonstration outside the City-County Council meeting before the vote.

"It's not over till we got it in writing," said Andrew Filler, a Franklin Township resident and organizer with Protect Franklin Township, the group leading the opposition.

"We're not gonna give up until we know for sure."

Farrah Anderson is an investigative health reporter with WFYI and Side Effects Public Media. You can follow her on X at @farrahsoa or by email at fanderson@wfyi.org.