Meet the new board tasked with shaping IPS and charter school policy

All nine members of a new board tasked with shaping how Indianapolis Public Schools and charter schools collaborate have been appointed, setting the stage for major planning efforts around shared buildings, transportation, and long-term governance.

The board, led by Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett as chair and IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson, will guide development of a plan to improve coordination and resource-sharing across the district.

The Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, or ILEA, was created by the Indiana General Assembly during the recent legislative session. It brings together appointees from the mayor’s office and school district leadership to develop a collaborative plan for managing public education within IPS boundaries. That includes traditional district schools and mayor-sponsored public charter schools.

Most of the newly appointed members of the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance are familiar voices in the city’s education landscape, each with years of experience and advocacy, including Bart Peterson and Tina Ahlgren.

Peterson, who served as Indianapolis mayor from 2000 to 2008, was the first mayor in the country to gain the authority to sponsor charter schools. He later co-founded The Mind Trust, the nonprofit focused on expandhing charter schools in the city.

Peterson, and another ILEA appointee Democratic City-County Councillor Maggie Lewis, signed a letter in January that urged IPS to address financial and operational challenges and share resources with charter schools

Ahlgren, an IPS math teacher, has worked in the district for nearly two decades. She has consistently advocated for equitable resources and better support for students and teachers based on her experiences at several closed district schools.

The board is required to submit its recommendations by Dec. 31. Those recommendations must address facilities use and upkeep, transportation logistics and costs, governance structures, and strategies for operational efficiency. The report will be delivered to the Secretary of Education, the IPS board, and the mayor’s office.

The board must meet before July 1. However, due to exemptions from Indiana’s Open Door Law, these meetings may not be open to the public. Officials said details on future meetings and opportunities for public comment will be released in the coming weeks.

“This group of accomplished civic leaders is ready to chart a course for the future of education within the IPS boundary,” Hogsett said in a statement. “I am proud to lead them as we embark on this critical work, and I am confident we will create a plan that ensures a stable, sustainable and collaborative path forward for our schools.”

Johnson said the board represents diverse perspectives from across the city.

“I believe that together we can chart a stronger path that ultimately supports our students, families, and community most effectively,” she said in a staetment. “We remain committed to advocating for our families, students, and staff throughout the course of our engagement with the ILEA.”

The members of the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance are:

• Mayor Joe Hogsett, chairperson
• Aleesia Johnson, superintendent, Indianapolis Public Schools
• Bart Peterson, former Indianapolis mayor; former CEO of Christel House International (mayoral appointee)
• Maggie Lewis, Majority Leader of the Indianapolis City-County Council; CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis (mayoral appointee)
• Angela Smith-Jones, associate vice president for State Relations, Indiana University; former deputy mayor of economic development (mayoral appointee)
• Tobin McClamroch, managing partner, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum; chair of the Marian University Board of Trustees (mayoral appointee)
• Barato Britt, president and CEO, Edna Martin Christian Center (IPS board president appointee)
• Tina Ahlgren, teacher at H.L. Harshman Middle School; Hoosier Educator of the Year, 2024 (IPS district-managed school parent appointee)
• Andrew Neal, CEO of Outreach Indiana; former COO of Brookside Community Development Corporation (IPS innovation school parent appointee)

The board’s work coincides with a temporary pause — requested by Hogsett — on new charter school approvals within IPS boundaries from July to December, unless approved by the mayor’s own charter board.

It also unfolds amid long-term legislative changes, including a requirement for IPS to begin sharing local property tax revenue with eligible charter schools starting in 2032 — a move IPS officials say could put financial pressure on the district.

Eric Weddle is WFYI's education team editor. Contact Eric at eweddle@wfyi.org or follow him on X at @ericweddle.