The Indianapolis Public School administration pushed ahead with efforts to expand autonomous schools and partnerships with charter operators during Thursday’s board meeting.

The Indianapolis Public Schools Board backed a plan Thursday night by district administration to restart two long struggling elementary schools.

One of Indianapolis’ most sought after charter high schools just joined Indianapolis Public Schools — an unusual shift in a relationship that has long been competitive. The IPS board voted to add Herron High School, a charter school on the northside, to the district portfolio of innovation schools at a meeting Thursday.

A neighborhood-led effort to remake a failing Eastside school was approved by Indianapolis Public Schools Board Thursday making it the first of its kind in the district.

The Indianapolis Public Schools took another step Thursday in its dramatic shift away from the traditional school district model to more collaboration with charter schools. Riverside School 44 will become Global Prep Academy, a Spanish and English immersion program. School 69 will become Kindezi Academy -- a program using online learning and classroom instruction created by the founders of Enlace Academy.

The Indianapolis Public Schools Board had a big night Thursday.
Higher pay and longer contract was approved for Superintendent Lewis Ferebee. The three-year school leader gets a 6 percent raise and performance-based bonus that could ultimately bump his pay to $287,000 annually.

Struggling Indianapolis public schools that earn an F for three consecutive years could be restarted as a charter-like school under a new policy the IPS Board of Commissioners is considering this week.