evening. Good evening. I'd like to call this meeting of the Indianapolis Local Education alliance to order. Thank you all for being here. Tonight is our 10th public meeting of the Indianapolis, Local Education alliance, where we will compile our recommendations to the Legislature. What we recommend will reflect changes from what you MAY have seen based on the input that the alliance has received over these last several weeks. And we will begin tonight with an additional hour public comment. Shana. Good evening. As in prior meetings we are following the public comment procedure, Cheddar shared on our website based on the signups for this evening. Each speaker will have one minute
to speak. We will end public comment after one hour when your name is called in, the timer begins. Please proceed until the timer sounds please be respectful of the time on it and finish comments promptly to allow as many people as possible to speak. Please keep your comments centered on the work before the alliance and note that alliance members will not answer questions or otherwise respond to comments. Comments should address the alliance as a whole, not individual members or staff, disruptive or offensive comments or similar behavior MAY result in a 5 minute recess. And if it continues adjournment of the meeting that we don't expect, that will happen. Comments submitted online prior to tonight's meeting and e-mails. Director to the Alliance were shared with Alliance members and will be posted online in the days to come. We thank everyone who has shared their
thoughts with us. The first speakers. So I'll call and if you could, please make your way down and lineup. Here in Michael Brown. Chloe Ramsey and Liam Bass Nagle. But started when I speak thank you. My name is Kiyan Michael Brown. I'm a former consultant for the National Department, homeless education and a former teacher him on the very both proposals stated by Lea directly strip public school systems of the Democratic right? Of their already elected school officials. This is the biggest problem that I believe this a patient has faced in the last decades. What it effectively does is old or immediate direct parent input how their schools from
how this was right. Believe me if I'm wrong, but I was raised to believe that democracy is a direct right of every single citizen and that the parents have every single input to say what is best for their child. Has affected the say is that parents do not deserve the right to make decisions. What is best for on this occasion and that both of the proposals that has is up. Kylie of plasma to the state, remove any sort of Democratic republic elected to some school board and the effect of the movement power that is unacceptable. Hello, I'm clear. Mci 10 Church high school. I'm here today because I cannot stay silent. Whether people want recommend changes that negatively impact Alston tonight Bs. So many walked the hallways of public schools are supporting decision that could
take opportunity to have succeeded. How can someone value education level to district students of the voice, the board in their schools? Public schools are the backbone of our community here considering a plan that would take influence away from to board leaving families without a voice in the decisions affect their children's future. In regard to the transportation proposal, everyone put transportation for all students. We need to be transparent on the way to do so and make sure there's a smooth transition into So public school transportation isn't being affected, but because giving me opportunities to pour in income, you have to give kids a chance at a future. Something it is trying to put at risk so do for recommendations. Instead invest in public schools so
more kids can attend and keep our schools fully democratic, fully funded fully public. Thank you. My name is Lee in Boston and I'm a student of North Central High School. I'm here in solidarity with my peers because public schools are not a commodity to managed. They're a public good that belongs the people. Depend on them. Happening through is not about officials year collaboration. It's about power. Unit 30's taken from an elected school board, a concentrated into the mayor's office in an elected charter board's. Working families lose their voice. Well, private interest gain control over public dollars right? Students, parents, teachers did not ask for this. Republicans at the state House asked for this and then the only option that preserve Democratic control was quietly removed while working parents for picking up the kids. Let's
be honest. Complexity is being used as a cover, unified, fully public system with an elected board. It's simpler, more accountable and harder to explain it. Education should answer to the people who rely on it. I urge I to reject privatization and recommend that people for a voice and to change fully funded fully public and fully accountable. Thank you. Next, hear from Madison with comb a tonn Kaufman. Nichols. Britt Madison with calm and on Kaufman. Nichols. Okay. Then Madison. I'm Madison would concerned citizen. Sometimes I'm labeled as a radical for my view, is that everyone deserves a hot meal, a place to sleep and a good education. 3, 0, radicals. Are the members of this board with any
stake in the charter school? I want to speak, frankly about what is happening here today. An appointed board tasked with silencing the voice of the people through the forest, dissolution of the ips elected school board enacted by state government that has been taking continued heavy-handed action to put IPs in the position. We see it in today. None of this. It's happening in a vacuum. It is the continuation of centuries of institutionalized racism and the notion that people in power, you know what's best for the people they serve. Even though when they say they listened, even though and they
say they hear us their actions speak otherwise. This board is made up CEOs and lawyers. They don't know. The first thing it come. The first thing that comes to crafting sustainable policies that benefit the people they serve. They only want policies that give your child the best price to education ratio in They don't want your communities. They don't think about the community's a destroyer when your kid when they use your kids as political pawns, they don't care if our schools exceeded there's turn a profit. Any recommendations by this board that is elected official should be seen as illegitimate and don't think that's Puts a of the Indiana state Constitution. The U.S. Constitution.
Father's articulated in the Declaration of Independence. And Daily. In and fund our school Well said very well I believe that everybody on this board and in this room can agree that transportation needs to be safe and unified between all these districts. However. Out of the 2 options, IPs has experience in this transportation. The tax dollars that go into transportation should also be in the hands of community members who are selected by other community reps members to represent the children to our community members I believe that all the people that many of the people on this board. Put our our
children. I mean. The children. In danger by offering the second option of an oligarchy school board selected. So CEOs who run these charter schools can get richer and richer next, hear from annual rooms. Latoya to hero and Marcella Guerra Daniel Bruins, LaToya to and Marcella I'm Dana runs IPs resident. I'm here to advocate for one of the models that is not being considered by this board today. Governance model that unifies charter schools, innovation schools and traditional public schools under the democratically elected public school board that we all elected. One that we want to see him power to make all decisions to be the single
charter authorize or and to be accountable to all the people. Yes, we want to make our voice hurt and we want our voice preserved and we don't want our tax dollars to go to some nebulous cloud of funding for charter schools as they take more and more of our money. That's all I have to say. Thank you. Latoya, to Marcella Guerra. What think, We're going to come back to because she's still going through security. Could you introduce yourself so get car? Must have been bit of a man. Notice how that is sitting the name most mother those. He seniors got Macy was as he as the saying it. So is good at the at this. Do more than less yellow, the amber.
But again, we see go to cbn up or you're going see them for some of these capacity. That gap in the second. You know what? I can meet goal. I inside that maybe a buck input and they let me in let the big with that has come with just media that been most that it that and support this goal, lasting appeal, that that particle, if you have any, we must gain a Massive got no court. But I want to see growth. Levitt they'll me that is What other they must. Yeah, that but does mean years. See that the noise down I'm going need. Look committee is saying meantime said, where do the thing to People this greatness? That's from media say most have been in battle in those. You know, my basket put on this that most will note that he that in in the end that that has he does, he's his bucket list of the at this point. I think that ice
queen of the it would have yep. Then And he staying at Uccs good young man. Pointing at you in the second in English. My name is Saleem mms. I'm a mom of 2 Christian and Scarlett and my children. Attempts at is a school of the arts. It took too long for my to receive support for his learning disability. And now that my daughter has started kindergarten, I worry she will face the same challenges like many families. We depend on school buses without reliable transportation. We have to choose what was close is not what was best the opportunity gap has gone on for far too long and black and brown children are not improving at a pace they deserve while adults debate school types,
families are left dealing with broken basics. That's why we need an independent transportation and building authority so students can get to school safely and learn in buildings that truly support learning. Thank you. Next will be Melissa Leslie Schull tea and Krista Lea Martin. Italy's mean for you. Latoya is here. So we're going to go with what we asked if people could please make their way to the podium. That would just help things keep moving. My name is LaToya to hero most 3. And I've been advocating for great schools for over 10 years. Wallace was Tim. When I She's now 21. And yet the opportunity to get the steal here. 10 years later. Barely moved the needle right now. Only 5.2% black students and that, yes, requires schools.
Our ongoing level. Students are tested 5 times better. That is not justices. That is not just a statistic that's kids being left behind kids with dreams cancel deserve better. I've had children in charter schools, ips, schools and innovation school us. The school tight never matter what mattered was whether the school help them thrive. That politics keeps getting in the way and his kids can't even get there because of transportation. Then the school choice is Here's what I'm asking. And independent authority, one that works with both at the s and charter schools. Shares power and uses data to pro grade schools and close failings. Board stays the MARCH of democracy states. But this I think over see buildings and transportation. So decisions are based on West
units, not politics. And please, no, I didn't want to single individual to thank you. That authority about the 40 according to work together and he is from bodies as possible with a first for me. Evening members. My name is and I'm a proud patient and we went when I came to United States. I intended high school here and we think feel language. The system, the expectations I know isolation school can for Haitian children and fall black and student was families trying to. And I think it and a system that doesn't always see them for decades. Our committee has been told to be patient while opportunity gap stays the same today on the 7% of black and brown children a
passing the island last and we didn't exam. The number is heartbreaking. We have children in middle school weekend cannot lead weights or the basic left and that is not because the island capable because the system is failing them. Families want better for children. But access is really did the Nokia plan to the schools that were working on show, families actually with them. Thank grieving by politics, but not not. You saw. But what if need thank you. I'm Alyssa. Leslie here. Okay. Then we are going to move on to. Just quickly. My name is Derrick Forward on. I'm a professor DePaul University launched a couple things, sir, need you to wait. We're going to a list of
people who signed please. Yeah. What's when I get your name? I'll call you up. Melissa. Leslie person, all. Yeah. It's journey. Yeah. Names. I mean, just in the interest of time, a couple things. Public education. You know what today is the outcome of the radical reconstruction period after the Civil war right? 2 Mayor Joe Hogsett. I don't want people like in his crew like Thomas Cook in charge of education. 3. Why is it that a charter school come by public school for dollar but a homeless person can't buy a vacant property for dollar. Yes, thank 3. We all need transportation. Students, youth, young people. I need transportation. These are issues that we could easily address if we didn't give all
the money to the cops and impd and sheriffs and we give it to the people and their needs. Thank you. Onto. Sheba Clemons. Felicia Wilson and Christina Smith. Sheba Clemens, Felicia Wilson and Christina Smith. Introduce yourself. Yes, okay. I haven't good evening Alliance members. My name is Melissa LaBella and a pair of to children at an ips school and down to I heard it mentioned a couple times at the listening session last week that the state will accept that. We think the state will accept a model with a fully elected school board. I reject this is a reason to not recommend what is in the best interest of the families and citizens with an ips district. I would love to see our alliance members who are community leaders, elected officials advocate on behalf of the communities that they
serve. I also heard at the listening session last week and I read in the news recently that the charter schools are accountable to their authorize ERs. This seems really strange to me. I think the charter school should be accountable to their students, families and community in the area that they with the increase of public funds that they will receive. Where's the discussion or recommendations around accountability for the schools of the additional funds will actually go to the students and not to the entities or board members. Thank you. As well. My name is Christina Smith. I was able to cast a ballot and she's my school board member. I know that she doesn't meet my expectations and I can support and campaign for someone else, I know every month that
they're going to be there, they're going to be in session. And that's more than I can say from my child's charter school. Voting is the voice of the people now boarded 9 point-six to take away the voice of an entire city. The voices that elected a board of 7 black women whose credentials and education experience far outweigh all of yours. Don't sign the voices of our elected board. Hello, my name is Clemmons, a number grandmother of students at a public charter innovation of school here in Indianapolis. I am proud of my grandchildren. Grateful for the school. Still transportation remains a daily struggle for our family. Get
it to and from school takes planning is sacrificed access to after-school programs, tutoring, sportsman enrichment activities off after feels out of reach. These expectations matter because they support the whole child and not only support creating ship champ Transportation facility system run by neutral authority with trained professionals share provider, create fairness, Officious stability for families. Ips and schools. Our children deserve systems built support them fully. They're trained professional. The evening I led a committee as a parent I feel is transportation should be provided for every student. With that I go to public or charter school, not just to get to and from school, but also to and from extracurricular activities is
important as well. If the Childs family doesn't have transportation, they shouldn't be left out of those opportunities due to that children's education is extremely important. Making sure the children in our community have the opportunity to be included in an after-school activities. Equality, education to reliable transportation is how we set them up for success for the future. Thank you. Dallas Police service next, we'll hear from Chelsea English, Addison Hunley and Wayne, more. And just cause taking, you know, different amount of time to get up here. If you could just make sure you say your name when you begin your comment. So we all know who you are. That would be hopeful. Next. We'll hear from Chelsea English, Addison
Hunley and Wayne, more. Good evening. My name is Chelsea English. I am a school social worker here and I p s I'm also a community member. I live just a few minutes from where I work. One of the things I love about this work is that the students and families I work with are my neighbors. We have an investment in our school and community. My concern is when outside influences get involved, entities who can make a profit off of our students, facilities and resources. There are many people in this room who chose to live outside of our community and send their children to private schools. I question your commitment and wonder what is in it for you. I want all of the students in Indianapolis to have the resources they need to succeed, but not at
the cost of others. I believe our community deserves to use our voice to make choices in our schools. And our school board should remain fully democratically elected and diluted in our school should be fully funded and fully public. Thank you. Thank you. Members of the board. My name is Addison. And I've been a lifetime ips student. I've sacrificed many things to attend the zy-lee meetings and listening sessions because the future of Indianapolis students depends on the decisions made here tonight. I realize this is about separation in dividing public and charter. This is about how we all come together to better the lives of Indianapolis students. Listening in collaborating with students who attended traditional public schools, innovation
schools and charter schools. I realize that we all want similar things, equity and sustainability. We want schools communities. Communities are supported, funded inaccessible to have accessible schools. The only transportation school should be able to pick and choose students based on who can afford or get it right there. Access a transportation is against him the choice of schooling in Indianapolis. Every school should required to have transportation. This is only way that properly serve students fairly across the city. The people making these decisions and his patients or those who are democratically elected by the people in trained professionals by by this community, by community that want to see Indianapolis in a school staff as you make your decisions tonight, choose options to support sustainable schools, accountability and equitable access for all the
students. No matter the school or the tank. You thank you. Use rain is going to yield his time to Doctor Posey for a minute. Dr Post next couple months come Crapo. Still he's going to he will take his mandate. My name is David and get my mandate. Back to Posey, Mountains and would give his minute to that post. We do know name doctor. Every speaker will have one minute to speak. Dr Posley. When about if government falls. You talk to the Point a this is our meeting. We we were were attempting to keep on the schedule so we get as many people speaking is possible we've that we've allowed just
We got political overreach. Political overreach has become a dangerous tool of oppression in American politics today. Please do. This over region, not only egregious and threatening to our babies at large. But in urban areas where educational problem solving efforts seeking to rescue predominantly black and brown students and families from destructive clutches a poor access to the best educational opportunities. Overreach seems to be fumbling our children in an unprecedented way. MR. Mayor. And members of the Indianapolis, Local Education alliance. Clergy and various members of the faith based community standing in solidarity with me today are here to say that we believe
that your handling votes far o I l e a the process amounts to heavy-handed public overreach. This overreach has quietly manifested itself here in the circle city politically procedurally and then Marley amid public sentiment with vigorously clearly disagrees with this proposed efforts underlying agenda. As it relates to your proposed leadership we stand together to lift our voices by saying to remove voices of elected Officials and replace them with our private agendas, which do not benefit children in the short-term or long-term. But only invites
scavengers and investors to pull it off. The plight of a broken school system. It not only It is for the well-being of our children and their futures. Already stabilized. Conglomerate of educational approaches such as we have in the map. This expertise at the helm of a true effort to unify ps innovation and charter schools, which we believe give your best hope to unlock the in a potential in them. Despite the manifold hardships that many of them burst through meetings overcome. Not only do we need voices of its first meeting, such a re reconstruction. We also need leadership from voices of goals connected with the deepest vested interest, interested parties such as leadership in the faith-based community and pastors as well as parents conclusion. The most powerful, the power of
collective voices. Difficult to out. Is worth the effort for our children. MR. Mayor, believe that drastic times demand drastic the greatest gift that freedom brings is the right to use our The greatest gift that access to tables gives is the power to use our voices. The greatest expression community involvement is to pay attention. To the crash. Of affected voices. We stand today clergy in Indianapolis using our voices demanding that you hear About our children. You quite difficult to achieve. He's attracted measure worth the effort for our children. To bipartisan governments. In current political landscape seems
impossible. We must roll up our sleeves. Well, we've been and I asked GOD to help us because our children are worth the effort. Children are most precious commodity. Their potential is why we're here today. Their futures on why we're here today. I will hole. Here's why we're here today. What we can be, what they can be is why we're here today. If you then MR. MISTER Mayor, thank you. You hold the key. To a lot. Know what? They can be. Please finish your You could lock out what they might We say to you keep children and political expediency. Second, it. Thank you for your time. Angela and Andrea family. Lillian barks and really I'm sorry, Angela Lee and Andrea Hunley. Lillian barks Angela Lee and Andrea Hunley. Good evening,
everyone. My name is Lillian Some of former IPs teacher youth advocate and community organizer. I began my journey and education over a decade ago at the age of 18 in regards to transportation, ips has contracted with Mueller transport. And any teacher here can tell you how that is going. Buses are habitually late subpar training for monitors and no accountability or investment and the culture and community of IPs Merrell appointment of the superintendent, Governor Holcomb did this with the state superintendent of the idea we you can put lipstick on an elephant and try to pass off as a donkey limiting the people's voice has not it. All means all my last year and ips. I only had 22 students and my class and at beginning and the end of the year, 11 extra students came without funding without supplies. I argue that the students moving
in the middle of the school year are the most valuable socially academically, oftentimes economically and linguistically data shows that students be more and more support that all of this seems like asking IPs to do more with less. So I ask you to reconsider. Thank you. Good evening, Andrea. Hunley. My opinions are in my IndyStar op-ed. I commend it to you today. I have questions which I know you can't answer but oppose them for the record. Anyway. I would like to know additional options were discussed and rejected. Did you consider a model with mayoral appointments to the current IPs school board instead of creating a whole new layer of bureaucracy. Did you discuss having the city secretary of education position elected just as our
state used to do with the state secretary of ad yet. Well, this secretary that position have expanded oversight and coordinate with all public school districts because IPs is one of 11 school districts in Indianapolis. Who will fund this position. What will be the increased cost to taxpayers for an additional layer? Government will be the administrative cost. Will there be board payments? Well, this board have the ability to issue debt. What happens to the current debt and bonds? Can the board levy taxes and put a referendum on the ballot? What is the proposed timeline for standing up such a complex structure and wouldn't it be more efficient, faster, cheaper and give more power to parents expand the oversight and authority of the
community elected public school board. Ali Jordan Knight and Sarah Clark. Refusing. Sorry. Ashton Ali, Jordan Knight and Sarah Clark. Good evening. My name is Sarah Clark Am a proud principal at Butler Lab School. 55 in Indianapolis, public schools. I stand here today with many principals who are working on standing up behind me to ask the following that we protect the stability of public education in our city. Across Indianapolis, IPs provides essential services like no other entity is legally required or structurally set up to deliver essential services are connected and the more layers we add, the harder and more expensive. It will be
to support kits. For example, I had a special education student that required specific accommodations through tant transportation and in our building due to his disability, we had to put in requests for harnesses on buses and items like soap dispensers door handles and householders to be moved to for him to access his environment. If we add another layer or fragment these services, it will create a huge operational risk without coordination. The services are families rely on daily faced disruption or claps. Thank you. Next will be Daria. Part him Chair Jeremy Bow and Kayla Montgomery. Good evening. My name is Dario Parra him. I'm a former principal and ips and I currently serve as one of the executive directors of school. I am also a proud graduate of Rockville High School. And I
just have to say that I p s it is not just my employer. It is my my home. My life's work. It is my foundation. Principal Clark outlined outline the complex daily operational realities of supporting every student operational risks we face is a direct threat to student safety and educational equity. Operate in silos, essential services like special education and support are starved of resources. Protecting our schools requires real partnership, beginning with clarity and non-negotiable commitments to systemic stability. The city needs a unified structure to deliver essential services equitably effectively
efficiently. Our students deserve district-wide, consistency and accountability and nothing less. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Jeremy Ball and I proudly serve as the principal at broad Ripple middle school to move forward as a truly unified community that prioritizes all students. We must secure 3 specific commitments from the I l e a one preserve the authority of the elected ips board, the citizens of Indianapolis elect the ips board to be accountable for the entire system. Oversight should not be fragmented. We must remain accountable. Families through the vote and threw one consistent governance structure. Protect systemwide, essential services, every school operating within IPs, boundaries, regardless of model, must equitably contribute to and participate in shared services, especially
transportation and special education. The systems are critical to fairness, instability for all students, 3 full funding for vulnerable students goal. The state must fully fund services for our most vulnerable students. Indiana must close longstanding funding gaps for special education, English learners and students experiencing homelessness so schools can meet. Students needs without cutting other essential services. Ips, principal stand ready to collaborate, but we'll also speak clearly and unapologetically about what required. Protect our students and honor the will of the families we Serve. Inc. Think Next will be Kalen scaling Good evening. My name is Kayla Montgomery. I rise here in
support of a vision of fully funded fully public education as it has been appalling to watch as leaders believe they are avoid of account being held accountable to say governments model that establishes a profit driven oligarchy on education. It's a complete the trail to to ignore the voice of our community. The people of India not vote for including the out of district out of the ips district for the mayor as well. When they shot to the polls to vote for mayor, they do it believing they have a vote that also extends to the ips school board and that they will have a voice and the school board. Not that the mayor is going to consolidate all the power thunder and established naugatuck a grip on ips of him. And if there are cracks and used as a green
light to favors out of state donors really stand to profit. I see your people for postal to support our communities, that they have the power right to a quality of education that funds our institutions to provide that education and and listens to their voice. Your job as elected officials to represent the people of this community. Not call surprise meetings behind the backs of parents while they're picking their kids up from school to we're going to cut those parents voiced out all education to thank you. Next will be Murray hit c Kaiser Gladney and Swan telling Nelson. My name is Marie had c I'm not charter. And I know that IPs is facing challenges. However, Ramadan starters receiving or abusing public
dollars, which we continue to see happen. The lack of accountability for air standards. Both of the proposals that are being considered are unacceptable. They take away the power from the parents. They remove elected positions. Lack accountability and give power to the mayor. The same air I can't trust with women in his office. If you with my daughter's education in future my daughter. This should be a ballot referendum. The only recommendation to be made is to put all of the options to the people to vote on Thank you. Good evening. I'm kids are going be a student Charlotte High School. The actively relies on public transportation. Many students such as myself experienced issues with time existence to
and from school Indigo buses was her student's attendance and also the safety and health of the students and these harsh weather conditions. I know some of your parents and i imagine you wouldn't want your child exposed to drinking smoking other things while traveling to and from school. Fortunately, this is a reality for many students, super inconsistent bus monitors. We should prioritize making our city a safer so that all students can have transportation without taking away public school resources. I know you can't run the Indigo but act to Iowa to use your influence voice our scored a nation between schools and public transportation. For more student friendly environment because for me and many others, this isn't a city issue. But education issue so actually did not recommend these policies to disrupt the trajectory of our public schools, but to recommend better was to protect the
students. Thank you. I feel advocates Santella was unable to make it, but want to make sure her voice was heard. My name want Ella Nelson and I am a mom. My children have experience every time. The school home school charter school, traditional innovation. And I'm here tonight for one reason, all of our schools must be accountable, transparent and held to the same high standards. So often schools are grown by Roman instead of student achievement. Too many schools fail our children year after year with no consequences. That mustache. I am fortunate to choose the best school for my kids. But many families don't have that option. If schools down block are the only choice. It must be a great school. Sadly, that's often not the case. Label should matter. Charter traditional innovation. What should matter is the quality
for every child. This is my support. Idea of the independent authority to oversee buildings and transportation, this truck structure makes all of these different school types work together to act as one system talking focus on student success. Plus it responsibly cuts. The number of authorized down to just 2 like in entire system. Much clearer and easier to manage. This is how we ensure every child regardless of their addresses, high quality education. Up next, we'll hear Next will be down to a Dyson. Bonnie. George and Chrystal Ratcliffe. Good evening. My name is submerging cause. I'm co-chair of the Education Committee with the naacp. I am substituting for PRESIDENT. Chris, do redcliffe this evening. The greater
Indianapolis naacp branch 30 53 strongly opposes any move to weaken or replace the democratically elected and Annapolis, Public Schools Commissioners. Back to school boards answer to the public appointed boards, reduce transparency. We could community participation and erodes trust and decisions that affect every neighborhood in the Napa lists, particularly historically marginalized communities a fully in it powered elected board is essential, ensuring equitable resources across all schools and preventing fragmented governance, the greater Indianapolis naacp branch 30 53 stance against point it or hybrid governors,
governance model. Publix, new rules so MAY govern. But leaders. So voters think. Hello and good evening. Members of the iaea. My name is Samuel Lewis. And speaking on behalf of Dante Dyson. My name is Dante Dyson. And I'm a proud proud IPs, father, first off. Thank you. Because right now things are chaotic. I know your job hasn't been easy, but I appreciate you all coming together to come up with solutions. Got different school types, different authorize years and parents don't know who to call when buses don't show up or buildings fall apart. That's why I believe I should be involved in while I fully support an independent transportation and building authority. We need one group, not IPs. Board members not
authorize ERs but a neutral and independent authority that holds every school to the same standard. One that focuses on buildings safe and accessible buses and real accountability. Because, well, what we've got now, it's not working for years. I've advocated for schools that close are opportunity. Got that's not happening and we need change. I believe in independent building and transportation authority would help ips and charter schools. They were together. Take the politics out and make sure every kid no matter where they go you get what they Thank you good evening, everyone. I'm believe George. A Haitian immigrant fight it any to treat you and I p s. So let's be honest. The on school type heading out kids. When we focus on labels like charter traditional, we
stop working to get student moves out. Should won accountability system that focuses data to determine how schools performing and use that data to investigate why some performing better so we can improve or schools. Recent study here Indiana, police shows that 58% of people he agrees with I support an independent before building in transportation because I want to see did drive Troy around our building, improve transportation. So family these to choice every child deserves that chance to succeed. Should be for hard it was to navigate this system
when Ifas Kenya speaking with immigrant families in my community, I'm hearing some of the seemingly certain understand the system. Just want good education, me with your children. So I want you to take about a system school cannot performance, 10 beds. So all students, think? Up next will next will be Amy Courtney, Marshawn Wally and Jenny Guerra. I MAY be Courtney executive director of madd Voters, a grassroots, Indiana nonprofit whose mission is to empower civic engagement and promote progressive change in Indiana. Public schools funded by the people for the people with the intent of educating all regardless of income background belief, nationality, race or ability have long been the foundation
for our society and our democracy. A public schools have transparency and accountability into their governance by virtue of their elected school boards, ensuring taxpayers have a seat at the table and the local community is represented. This model ensures that students, particularly from marginalized communities, receive a high-quality education in a safe, equitable environment as privatization increases with an I p s decision makers must ensure those communities retain their influence over their local schools. Appointed school boards deprive the public of their voice, inviting political distractions and more bureaucracy into school governance at voters are just I we had to preserve the voice of local communities. You and support a family elected IPs,
Schoolboy q, thank you. My name is Marshawn Wally and this evening, I'm speaking on behalf of the African-American coalition of Indianapolis established in 2004, collective, more than 20 civic minded organizations committed to improving the quality of life African-Americans in Indianapolis. Well, we've previously raised questions about the process that led us to this moment. We appreciate the opportunity to be a part of this important discussion ac. I strongly support high quality education for all students, regardless of whether their schools, public charter, private, traditional public record committed millions of dollars to the Indianapolis African-American quality of life initiative to support young people in this
community. Particularly focused on the importance of equitable funding for students and thoughtful oversight of our educational system. In that context, we have concerns about the impact of multiple charter authorize ERs operating within the ips district, how this structure MAY affect long term stability and outcomes. Well, we know charters have played a meaningful role for many families. The number of charter school closures over time. It's concerning. Well, some of school closures, the ultimate accountability. Think you see this is traumatic experience for families. Yes, at the end of the thank fewer authorize We support high educational standards for everyone and a fully elected school board. If Jenny Garrett
isn't here, we will move on to Crystal Salgado Dimitris Jones and Vilma Hernandez. Good evening. Members of the I e a my name is Christopher. Oh, GOD. And I had been year. A couple times advocating for all kids. To high quality education, regardless of what type of school they attend. My son to struggle in a township school. I decided and choose for my son to go to charter school at the moment. There wasn't any transportation available. So I have to dry occurs. The about 30 minutes. Back and in the morning. And then in the afternoon pick him up. Has a single mother. This was sustainable. And unfortunately, I can only do this for a year. He's now a sophomore in high school has
recently moved with his that due to the inability to create a space where you can drive in schools. And that lack of transportation. I want to ask for there to be at one separate in for transportation schools in the district to have the opportunity to Thank you writers, predation. Thank you. Women his number below my mom. This. It's of camp and deal momentum of the few One thought about the bull is with a system of court, the summer school lot. So we will know. Sonia said, look, that was the whole Armijo and will not. But I like people kind of. So the idea of the coin of most of on this came to mind the home of baby to you. My haines city viewed a moment come on them out it. Can the law be laying
list? Tough when believe that missing people from the the U.S. About a complete the man they saw that a can open the enemy with the tell you that, you know, came as It is said okay. Only in the end. That's on me. Just seeing up and down below Little him. Us. Not If board of whole lot of got it. A semi. Most meals, this thing illegal. That's Amelia's know that getting not getting a grip cuando uncle Sunday. Good evening, I Leah members. My name is being met him on this. And I'm a mother who learned the hard way. How broken our transportation system can be years ago. My son was left at the wrong bus stop. I still remember the fear not knowing where he was, what a call for how to get help. Now. Imagine living that moment as a parent who doesn't speak English. That was my reality. I was confused, scared and
completely alone in a system that had no clear answers or accountability and what hurts the most is hearing that families today are still facing the same problems. Nothing has changed. Transportation should never be. The reason a child is unsafe or a parent is terrified. Families shouldn't have to guess who is responsible when something goes wrong. Right now there is no coordinated system, no single place to turn and no clear standard across schools. That is why support an independent transportation that building authority, one that put safety, communication and families first, not politics or school tight. When transportation works and accountability is clear, parents can trust the system
with what matters the most. Our children. Thank Up next, we will hear from floor Maldonado, Brian, to art and Alyssa in Pink. You know, missed I do you up. But I've read that number. Then those new we get on this. Yes, come, where does the money come of Make a mother feel as say cause this is quite a sport because they up with these. I know that a sign as the will put us in he's open. A gust to one has been on set. They can. Says Mitt Cornet on. But I know that a sign So we up in cosine either and them at an there's been a bit. He then see this week off item and this seemed deal cannot the or that Musk that GOD has mercy Corps. That is quite a lot. But as I mean, yes, in Macon
businesses Giannis going stop. There's going to see this this guy this more just then was that if I mean, Jack and Putin done, but it is eat your mind. Feels going the Xs only meet that and they've been mostly on Wendell, no city fees. Us as part of that is no sunset waters notice even in a month and man thought was and the way that as part of the noise going have it is still stuck on the thing note that But Good evening. My name is I'm gonna the one. I'm here to speak on behalf of immigrant children, children like those of Michael moderate Michael moderate trusted Indianapolis public schools with her children. She couldn't be here today. But year after year she showed up ask questions and hoped things would get better. But year after year per child
learn almost nothing. The system failed to meet her child's needs and eventually she felt she had no choice but to pull her children out for immigrant families. Decisions like this are heartbreaking. Many of our families already face language barrier, transportation challenges and limited access to information when school buildings are not safe, not maintained or when transportation is unreliable, it becomes another barrier that pushes families out instead of welcome. Welcoming them in. That is why I'm here today to ask for change. We need an independent transportation and building authority. One that is focused, transparent and accountable so that students can get to school safely and learn in buildings that support learning not
distracting from it. Education cannot succeed. If the basics are broken, our children deserve schools that work for them. Think immigrant families deserve a system they can trust. Please take this step to ensure dignity and opportunity for every child. Yourself. Hi, everyone. I'm Nicole on the school board for IPs. I believe this moment calls for leadership. Not fear vision, not segmentation. And I've also heard from lots of folks that it's too little too late for IPs, the IPs board, but our system is not working. Not because our board does not function, but rather we don't have appropriately funded education, which is a conversation that I had not heard. Our focus has been on charter versus traditional
public schools, but that's always been fundamentally the wrong conversation to have we all care about students. That should be our focus. And of course, every student deserves an equitable Trent to transportation. All want a public education system that is high quality financially sustainable, incoherent across the city. Currently, our system is already too fragmented, too costly and too difficult for families to navigate, which does her children and erodes public trust. What you proposing is disruptive when ips is ready to lead a future where all publicly funded schools operate under shared accountability where the system is right size to match enrollment. And what decisions are grounded and real data not just mentions. I implore you to pause. Don't make a hasty decision this evening based on arbitrary timeline. In in our system further but allow ips
to collaboratively. Thank you. In building a forwardlooking plan and advocate the legislature to fund it appropriately. DR. Brian, to art, assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies at Purdue. This testimony is my own does not reflect my employer. I live I p s boundary researched the effects of school choice in marginalized communities. The Iowa has not listened to the public. The joint statement released by the mayor and superintendent, it's a start, but none of the recommendations under consideration address repeated requests from ips and charter parents for a publicly elected unified board to oversee all public schools. Research demonstrates that publicly elected school boards remain the preferred governance structure for public schools rise and even paid for a study that found parents want unity. And I've seen charter parents
advocate at ips board meetings and just last week, charter school to students told you about the importance of a publicly elected board. I implore you to listen We're going to continue our comment period with Katrina. Anderson, to make a Patton and Chi Wong. Good evening, I'm Katrina, Anderson. And based on the educational journey of my children, grandchild and myself, I support ips. I support charter and innovation schools and I support ships. I support them all because families students need all these education options. Families and students also need transportation. And we need to do it in a way that is fair. When we invest in a fair
efficient, an independent transportation system. We are saying every student no matter their school deserves a safe and supportive path to education. This is about building a solid citywide solution for all children. This is why I support a transportation authority, separate from ips for the mayor's office. When we do this, we will be putting students first through independent oversight of transportation services. Thank you. After Kai will be serve on tests and clear poll. Good evening. Good evening. I'm Kai Vong. Ips and charter schools strive to provide quality education to all our kids. And i think we must also expand that to providing reliable transportation for all our kids so they can receive their
quality education. I asked Arlia to recommend a system that gives every child and equitable path to school and give every family the peace of mind they deserve when it comes to reliable transportation. The way to do that is to a transportation body that is separate from ips and separate from the mayor's office. We need a shared system that isn't composite of leaders of all parties and not directly governed by This decision would be putting kids first and the families first as well. Thank And though and Hello, everybody. My name is Remy now serve on this. I am an advocate. But before I was an advocate us, a domestic violence survivor also come with a lot my from my childhood. I also have 3 beautiful daughters that went through a lot with me in my
journey as an adult, only 34, by the way, my oldest is 14 and we in my twins are having. And as a domestic violence survivor n s mental. Situation ship in my house because of the trauma. I will encourage you 2 U.S. To provide transportation. For us because that will change the narrative every single day in our life as well. That will give some peace of mind. That would give me a probably a full-time job and a lot of opportunities. And I know that on that along alone. I know that there's a lot parents. They're a single parents. There is grimace Krampus. They're sisters and brothers on. There's a neighbor start taking care of kids and we are is struggling right now. Everything is super expensive right now with all
the legal stuff that are happening, I'm really going to see And they need to be careful driving the taking my daughters to school. I really, really ask you car as the After Clare will be shock when Laci Deontay Grimes and Jesse Brown. Good evening. Multiple authorities will offer families protection. Selection process of choice school quality. As it's been reported, a large majority of black and brown students continue to be enrolled within the charter and innovation schools throughout the I p s district. Based on that, the fact that we are responsible for ensuring these learning institutions. Performing financially stable. Doing so. It is imperative to have
multiple authorities oversee. A sustainable educational system. Entities which will hold the necessary operations accountable. So overpowering thus the successful operations about innovative charter and ips schools. I want to thank you for your time. Chocolate here? Hello. Good Shockley Lacey. I would like to say creating a share. Transportation system tier and buy a new tour. Authorities. This serves all public schools and is staffed by professionals. Subject matter expertise. Today. Most public school students in IPs boundaries, a teen, a public charter innovation school. My daughter is one of those students. The students at her school, other schools deserve
the same access to facilities and transportations any other excuse in transportation any other student creating a space shared transportation provider. Make providing transportation for those students easier and safer for all students giving our equal opportunity for education. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. Just want to take a second, but just different city Council district, 13 want to take a minute to address what a beautiful microcosm. We have 4 j-hawks and Bart Peterson style Neoliberal solutions instead of everyone just voting and selected what they want to happen with tax dollars. We go through this whole farce where everyone the right to speak as long as they're willing to go through security, pay to park downtown get 60 seconds, which isn't enough time to actually be
heard. A cost of $40,000 a month for MISTER O'Connor. Salary. It's more that I make for that. I make it as well as an elected official. I wonder where we could find some place in Indiana where every child has perfect transportation, a school where we have specials where we have all the good things in life. It's right up the road on in Hamilton County. We just have to fully fund our public education and we can provide what every us that he could tonight has has demanded and charter school students, students transportation, but they can't take the money from public education, I guess is already underfunded. You know, that you've already made your decisions. This is a farce. But thanks for looking me. While you let me get to this game good evening. My name is take winds. I mean, I p s a mom and a community advocate that deeply cares about all
students, especially students that look like me to have a great opportunity. Coming up an app. Yes, this to myself between the cracks a few times and I was just passed along because I want to just packed. But because I fell through those cracks, I did do jail time and it opened up my I was just a statistic, which is why my voice is here. Why don't want that for any child? The education of our students should receive produce the same results regardless of race. When I hear about the passing percentage of minority students disheartening 5, 4, 2%, for black students and 7th. First it knows we need to end up in the building that application authority to move past politics. If a school is a charter or 2 is no school shouldn't matter. The focus should be on kids, making sure that they could grant opportunities that make that
we need to make sure the school or their choice of expanding transportation. We need to make sure that the school that we grow up should be more successful and have the ones that we need for our students. Thank Up next will be Courtney Hawk, Mark Russell and Kristin Fehr. Don't start clock. And too often introduced most. My name is Mark Rosso record advocacy for the Indianapolis or even lay. I've been on this type of work since 1980, so. This whole process is extremely disappointing. The state house. When you testify, you're given 3 minutes. It doesn't change because the size of the You stay. And 2 people been heard. News and Democratic. And a very cold to democracy to try replace
elected school board within a point form of governance. We just went through this redistricting in the state House. And you saw how? Bipartisan support emerged to maintain the people's right to be heard. Good evening. My name is Kristin Fair and I serve on the ips parent council. You know, tonight on really just as parent. Any model that includes appointed members MAY to satisfy the legislature, but it does not honor the voices of the families in communities we've heard from throughout this process, including the recent listening sessions. Parents that have shown up in good faith and despite repeated requests, there is still no clear explanation of how these changes would be implemented.
Funded are held accountable. Honestly, this feels like another experiment with ips and that uncertainty is exhausting. Our children deserve consistency and care, not people. Sadly tonight, if you move forward with the proposed models, time will show that this body did not support public education. No matter the outcome, parents and caregivers, this is what I need you to hear parents and caregivers, our work and I seen and were building momentum and we will keep showing up and demanding the equitable well-funded public school districts. Every child in Indianapolis deserves. Next will be good. 3 buyer, Sasha Fletcher and on when.
My name is covered by are and they have come to oppose the proposals I lea has advanced and to support the people's proposal, which would give unified authority over transportation and facilities to the school board elected by all residents. This will provide charter school parents with the transportation. They just they demand. I repeat this would provide charter school parents with the transportation. They just need a man. Proposals I lea is considering share one commonality. They constitute form of indirect election. Proposes gather not to elect the body, which controls school buses and school buildings, elect the body, which will then appoint a minority to some other board, which has the real power. This is an idea better suited to the 18th rather than 20% Yeah. Hello. My name is a pleasure.
I want to start with the simple fact. Every public school student deserves equal access to transportation facilities, no matter which public school they Today, most public school students with an IPs Badgers attend charter or innovation schools. Those students are just as public. They deserve the same access to safe transportation of quality facilities as any other child. Our current system wasn't built for this. A reality. Transportation and facilities are fragmented across sectors, creating inefficiencies in equities and unnecessary complexity for schools and families share transportation system and facility system run by a neutral authority and staffed by professionals with subject matter expertise with solve this. It will promote equity, reduce duplication and make planning and operations easier for everyone, including ips, the charter schools with an it's Murphy. This isn't about governance or competition.
It's about building modern systems that reflect today's public education landscape put students first. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. My name is on when let's be short number one, we need to unify fully at Lek the school ball. What a single authorize a to ensure accountability and transparency across all school type. Second, we need to leap year, though, one dollar ensure a fan us. 3. We need the men, men, men date fans, both patients for Oscars. Oscar provide transportation to student and for last but not list. We need a transition period bringing the current season p it. I'm calling pop and Zeeshan Peanut a 5 years in which we should have a pause on new school. Sonoma,
new within the district about And that China school also enough. Pam, Times for from run off riser that they have right now a single authorize a ruling that 5 peeling it. Thank you. Our last speakers will be Mary Angelica Rigour and Chris Bowman. My name is Mary Ann Tribal Ruger and has an ips resident of 30 years. I tell you today, vote no on both of these proposals also here as a board member of the Indiana Coalition of Public Education to share their support for ips and a democratically elected school board. I stands firmly with IPs and support support of a democratically elected school board. Families must have a voice in the oversight of their public schools. What makes public education truly public is the ability to elect neighbors and community
leaders who set the direction of our schools are accountable communities they serve. We believe that public schools are the heart of their communities. And I know because many of you went to them. I think, you know that too. The constant opening and closing charter schools has undermine stability and rain funding from traditional public schools. Oversaturation of schools has diluted resources for all students. For too long. The Legislature has allowed outside groups to treat our neighborhood public school as entrepreneurial ventures rather than the essential common good. They are. Thank you. True accountability comes from the local control in community voice to elected school boards. Hoosiers recently. Thank you. Rejected and a Democratic efforts pushed by
outside interest from their belief representation elections. Now we see further anti Democratic efforts happening right here at home. And it s in our boundaries, not in our school board. In the form weakening our school boards, folksy guy. Yes, all. And then does it go Hi, my name's Chris Boardman. I'm the result director of external affairs for Indian a math and science Academy schools. We are a public independent charter school with 2 locations in around 1200 students, even with our 20 plus contracted buses. Are families still struggle with transportation yesterday is a joint statement from
Superintendent Johnson and Mayor Hogsett offered some common ground and several great ideas. From our perspective at Indiana Math and Science Academy, though, we hope recommendations from create shared transportation and facilities authority, protect family choice and school quality by continuing to allow multiple authorize. There's for public charter schools, no moratorium on new public charter schools in create a common accountability system for all public schools of all school Thank you. public comment that ends the public comment. This is not of your opportunity for public involvement. Once we compile our recommendations, we will submit them to the Indiana General Assembly with all the
supporting data from the meetings that we have. Over the course of the last 6 months, we have held 7 public meetings and to public listening sessions, all of that will be provided to the Indiana General Assembly for its consideration. And we've taken 14 hours of public comment from literally hundreds of people. So hear a single word now we will transform or transition into the presentation of Iowa yeas. Final recommendations. Mayor. I move to introduce final recommendations for review and discussion. It's not a motion to approve some motion to. To introduce final recommendations. Do I hear a second? Now second. For Brit
seconds. Mike, can you walk us through the presentation before we discuss it as an ally yes, sir. Thank you, mayor. Just start off by reminding everybody the charge to the Indianapolis Local education alliance been an Indiana General Assembly. It was contained and housing Rolex 15, 15 with regard to facilities and transportation. Charges develop a facilities and transportation implementation plan, including best practices, first facilities, management and operations, a system to track quantitative and qualitative data to gauge success of the plan ensures vision reprots services for homeless students or students in foster care is provided by McKinney, Vento, Homeless Education, Assistant Improvements Act. And then the
alliance MAY include recommendations regarding special education policies. Those are lifted directly from house like 15, 15 section 4 calls for the alliance MAY include the following recommendations in the implementation plan, the governance structure for a collaborative school system uniform school performance framework for all students within the collaborative school system, an approach in which schools located within the geographic boundaries of the school city will participate or opt into the participation in the implementation plan and what service level schools MAY participate or opt in. Further the yet the statutory recommendations, such story requirements are that not later than DECEMBER. 23 DECEMBER 31st of this year. And the alliance shall submit the school facilities, transportation plan and recommendations to the
secretary of education, the board the mayor described in Section 2 and the Legislative Council. So as the mayor was talking remind you all where we have been we've had 2 days are actually 10th meeting. We've had 15 different presentations to the I l a and we've had over 14 hours of public comment and literally hundreds of citizens mayor said have engaged in during multiple meetings of the Indianapolis Local Education alliance. So just remembers, the old adage says. All good things must come to an end. So here we are to framing the issue so so we have a charge from House enrolled Act 15, 15. We have a sort of underlying elements that we have to meet. But the real question is, what's is this great? What's the need for
these discussions in these recommendations? And that is and that is folks, please. We've allowed additional public comment now. We're going to continue to be conversation with the aioli endeavors Within the ips. Bounty, there's been a lack of decision-making coherence across different school types which is led to an even experiences and opportunities for students and families with the change in how local funding is distributed, we must build a more coherent system that maximizes efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Respects the decision making right of individual schools and systems. And most importantly creates the best conditions for student learnings and success schools.
With that with that said, we have recommendation for a structure that if my then if strong will work, starts at the top with the mayor as a chief executive of the city. I will. I will stop Intel. I can continue. So everybody can be heard as we have Starts with the mayor is executive of the city created and executive director of the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation. There are 3, 6, well, 3 suggest authorizes the mayor's Office of Education in a v 8 innovation. The Indiana Charter School board. And as we heard recently, the Napa's Public Schools Board of directors is going to petition to become a charter authorizing. Includes and maintains the ips Board of School Commissioners and elected body of 7 members.
That board set district policy and strategic direction from for the ips Schools approves annual budget contracts and hires and evaluates the superintendent. It maintains the charter school boards as they are today, not for profit organizations. They set policy and strategic direction of the school hires and evaluate school leader and approves the annual budget and contracts. It creates the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation. It is an appointed 9 member organization appointed by the mayor. There are 3. Lord. I 3 ips board members make up at this point. There are 3 charter school leaders at this point and there are 3 at-large members almost side with in the ips boundary on a limb. I will go into a little more detail about the characteristics of all those appointees, the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation has the ability to
levy property taxes set and he implements policy for transportation services and facilities. You mention all public schools within the boundary employ staff to support operations manager unified enrollment system. Establish a framework for school all Public Education Corporation. And plays support. Staff for operations manages a unified enrollment established a framework for school accountability and create an advisory board to facilitate collaboration. Among all entities. We only nation network schools exist as they continue. Is they are today. They policy and strategic
direction of school hires and violates school leaders and annual budget and contracts. And the schools again, it will continue operate under the direction of their individual or 2. That Pdi Ps 4 a nation, never schools a and independent charter schools. So a little bit of the series of recommendations for the members as part of that structure. And I'll go through next. Several pages of recommendations of local Education alliance. We Indianapolis, we recommend Legislature create an Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, an independent public Municipal corporation known as snap U.S. Public Education Corporation here refer to a corporation, the functions responsibility of the corporation will be as follows control management and operations of building serving as public schools within the
boundaries of school district. And oversee the provision of transportation students to and within the ips district boundaries, Levy property taxes for the artist district boundaries. I would note the discussion we've had is the collection and distribution of property taxes in Indiana. Extremely complex. The recommendations include. An organization that. One forest kind of mileage standards, ball. Other schools conditions. It will also manage a unified enrollment All public schools within the jurisdiction of the corporation. Continue recommendations of the to to the state legislature, apps public at Education Corporation will be led by a
board of directors. Members of the board, will be appointed. And the mayor of the city of Indianapolis, 3 members must be current public charter school leaders. 3 members must be currently serving members of Minneapolis. Public School Board of Commissioners in the final 3 members share expertise in areas such as facilities. Management capital plan transportation and logistics. Working with vulnerable student populations and communities air will designate the chair of the board. All members must reside in the ips district. The terms of the members of the board will be staggered with each member serving fixed terms, moving to accountability. The aioli recommends a single school performance framework across all public schools in the The framework should clear expectations. The school
months, the based on multiple measures including status outcomes, student discipline practices and other key measures that are relevant to student success and guide decisions for replication instructional models that are achieving the best results for students, especially those who have been historically underserved throughout the system. Implementation school performance framework should focus on developing measures based on both the mayor's Office of Education. Innovation Performance Framework in the state's final. A can ability rules, a commitment across all sectors to use data from Senate's framework to make decisions around. Closing chronically low-performing schools after a transparent public process with adequate time provided for struggling schools to make improvements. Developing
metrics for opening and closing school facilities. It physical condition of facility number of enrolled students, deferred maintenance, regional and community analysis of need. Continuing with recommendations that I led recommends a unified system. All public schools within the ips down boundaries will be required to provide transportation to students living within the ibis district boundaries to participation in the unified system for publicity purposes. A public school building reuse the corporation will ensure that facilities will be provided to all public charter Schools, Innovation Network, charter schools and ips schools on an equitable basis. Other recommendations. We suggest remain as local education agencies. Ips will continue to exist as an ally. A as Public charter schools with the exception responsibilities assume by the Corporation for facilities,
transportation in uniform, accountability standards, the Board of School Commissioners for Indianapolis. Public schools will continue to provide direction for the operation of all direct grant schools as is currently the case and a not-for-profit boards will charter public school public charter schools apartment also remain in place for the same authority as is currently the case. He IPs Board of School Commissioners will continue in its current form under the current model of election of school board members. A couple of additional key recommendations, the iou recommends that the Indianapolis public school district be exempt along with all public charter schools contained that district from the Indiana dollar charter law with the appropriate Indiana coach site. The aioli
recommends the only authorizes a new public charter schools to be located inside the ips district found will be the mayor of Indianapolis e I and the Union State charter school existing charter agreements authorized other entities MAY operate until the end of the current contract terms. The ips Board of School Commissioners MAY also choose authorize schools through the application to the Union State Board of Education. Epa's Education Alliance asking Indiana General Assembly for funding. Maybe one can't. I repeat myself, the app U.S. Local Education alliance asking Indiana General Assembly for full funding of special education within the ips district boundaries suggests the need for additional work to determine the best model for equitable access and service for special education needs across all
public school types within the district. One IPs currently provides education, special education funding at a 24 million dollar annual deficit. As we discussed rolling through models. As we look at facilities in particular. But there are discussion rep facilities and transportation were discovered several areas that will need further legal analysis. Legislative decision making and a deeper fiscal review. We will highlight those concerns in a separate chapter of the final report. Mayor, that is the end of our final set of recommendations. Are we ready for discussion from alliance members? Well, Another Good evening, everyone. So I want to start first by just acknowledging the passion that's in this
room. It is clear there's deep care. And we're not going to need everybody's expectation or everyone's desire. But I am heartened by everybody's participation. So I want to start by thanking my colleagues in this alliance for the many discussions and debates we've had over the past several months. Our conversations have always been grounded in a shared belief of our collective responsibility to assure great educational experience for our students. And while we haven't always agreed on the how I'm not doubt our shared commitment to family students and community. I've been guided by 3 court priorities in this process. First, the retention of an elected school board that directly represents our community. Yes, second, that the recommendations support our students continuing to have access to the opportunities they've gained through our work in rebuilding stronger. And 3rd that we
minimize long-term disruption for all of our families, all of them serve within this boundary even as we navigate very real short-term challenges. The fact that we all know is that our current system is fractured. This fracturing began with the 1970, decision to leave schools out of, you Gov and has accelerated over the last 20 years as state education policy has increasingly incentivized individual and competition over community and collaboration. The proposal tonight is an imperfect solution for a challenging set of realities. It wasn't. The reality is that we have too many schools within our boundary which trains resources and creates an even access to opportunities. We are inadequately funded to offer the full spectrum of
services for our most vulnerable students need that cost our district. 24 million dollars more than what we receive, particularly to serve our students with disabilities. Furthermore, the data from our most recent state assessment is clear. Only 21% of students across all Marion County Schools, Public Charter innovation in private, demonstrated proficiency in both ela and math. 21. We know that test scores are not the whole story, but that part of the story shows that immense work needs to be done. Not just an ip asked not just in charter schools, but across our entire city. On behalf of educators everywhere. We all know that the work we do is profoundly difficult even without the noise that surrounds us every debt. Many of the recommendations we review this evening are ones I fully support have championed. I believe they will provide the
necessary enabling conditions to gain stability and ips and create an environment in which all schools both public and charter must equally share, not just in the benefits of public education, but also in the challenges. It will not be surprising that my biggest concern lies in the decision-making oversight of our current elected board. That will now be in doubt to a new body. However, what I also know is that if we continue to have an elected board with just the same oversight as they do today in none of the other additional recommendations that we've covered. The challenges of incoherence and any resources will remain. So tonight we've created this framework for a new entity with many, many
details to still be filled in. My most pessimistic moments. I could assume that those details will be filled in ways that intentionally bring harm to families, staff and students and ips and are saying might say that those thoughts are pessimistic but realistic, given what history shows us. However, because the details aren't filled in, I actually do naive. We are not wholesome level of optimism, mostly because of what I've heard seen and learned from those of you who have been engaged with us through this process. And even earlier on. Your presence during this process has been necessary. You have pushed our thinking. You have held us to account. You have reminded us that people are watching and deeply care. My deep hope is that you will keep showing up and
making your voices heard because these are only recommendations and we need all of them to move forward, including the retention of an elect, its school board as this moves through the state house to achieve the necessary stability for our students. So as we shift this conversation from this group to the state House. We must push the thinking of our state policymakers. We need them to know that our community is watching and cares deeply. We need to hold them to account and we need to speak up so that the work of this new entity is shaped in a way that is responsive. That is accessible to community. That
decision making is transparent and that there are clearly defined measures of success and that the use of our community assets are shaped by our community. Those things have not yet been determined and they are key priorities. I will carry forward given high the stakes are with deep reservations regarding the shift in decision making authority. But a deep belief in the remaining recommendations that I believe we need to move the system forward and to stabilize for our families. I will support the move to with these recommendations to the state house for a further conversation and engagement. You played it any other alliance members, comments. I want to be clear that I came into this process with an open mind hopeful that we can
jointly develop a plan that I would be comfortable signing my name too. I've been grateful for the other members of this body who have earnestly work to understand my perspective incorporated some of my feedback into this final recommendation. With a short timeline. I told many of you early on that one of my biggest worries was that we get to this moment and the plan would be generally agreeable. But 2 high level for me to feel comfortable of passing it off to the Legislature. To fill in the details as they see fit. While there are parts of this recommendation. Well, there are parts of this recommendation that I fundamentally disagree with. I find my biggest reason to vote no is the level of ambiguity in the plan. I find these recommendations falling into this bizarre zone of simultaneously feeling both
too much and not enough. Fold in some areas but overly timid and others with big promises that the ecosystem will sort itself out. Done enough policy work with the Indiana General Assembly and the U.S. Congress to understand the dangers of living important elements up to chance or worse. A legislature which historically has not aligned with the values of this community. There are significant elements of these recommendations that are exciting to me and I believe will have a positive impact for the students in our city. First and foremost, this plan will significantly increase the level of access to transportation for the students have previously been limited for many years. I argue that this is one of the biggest barriers, authentic school choice for families. Well, knowing that everyone bust anywhere is still cost prohibitive. I believe this
plan makes huge strides and making sure all schools provide transportation to their students. I believe unified decision making for facilities will help us improve the quality of buildings for students across the city. Helping intentionally navigate future decisions around openings and closings in a coordinated manner. Setting common accountability standards as well as opening and closing metrics creates a huge opportunity for us to learn from each other, particularly when these standards are based on more than just test scores. I also appreciate the specific focus on underserved students. I look forward to the day when looking at these metrics will allow me to see, for example, which schools are vested engaging their multi-lingual families so that my school can ask questions and get ideas to
improve our own practice. I see the reduction and authorizes with a focus on local entities as a solid first step in addressing the oversaturation of schools in center township, a problem which feeds the scarcity mindset across the entire ecosystem. And I appreciate the nod to the funding gap that exists for ips with regards to special education services and the call for the Legislature to help close that gap. There seems to be an assumption that a vote against these recommendations is a vote for the status quo. That could not be further from the truth. There's a collective understanding that our current fracture structures not only unsustainable, but as the imaging consequences for students, status quo has never been an option. But I cannot live with the idea of telling already marginalized families that only way that they
can get the things they've asked for is in exchange for diminishing their power at the ballot box. This is a false choice. Other paths for the Other paths forward exist, which do not require this trade-off? Well, some people probably speculate that my various leadership positions or cricket career trajectory influence my decision. I want to be clear that I did my best to take primarily one roll into this process that of the parent representative to this board. I take this role very seriously as it is the parents in this district who are desperately trying to make the difficult decisions to choose the right educational environment for their children to thrive. And while I'm technically the representative
of the traditional school parents is not their voices that I had echoing in my head throughout these last few weeks as I wrestle with this, isn't it? Here, Don t a passionately fighting for increase parent involvement in decision-making. Here's Alana telling the story of trying to get the help she needed for her son she along with many other parents want fewer layers of complication when addressing issues and not more. I hear him out which we hope get your because I don't know you personally worried about She was in my listening session last week transportation and she was worried about the flow of funds and her fear that schools would still find ways to provide insight that insufficient transportation for the students who need it. Most. And I hear multiple students from kid Legacy high school like dazzling expressing their own demands
for Democratic governance lieu of appointments. And I hear constant barrage of questions about how IPs will navigate these changes that are coming and reminders of the financial future of the district is bleak. When I look at these recommendations, I don't see these things addressed. And sometimes I elements that could move us in the wrong direction. I see an appointed Indianapolis public Education Corporation, further distancing the parents of the students from important decisions. It creates multiple layers of bureaucracy for families to navigate when there's a problem causing additional confusion. I'm extremely concerned about the potential for lopsided representation and more importantly, finger pointing and blame shifting when things go wrong. And most importantly, the 11 school districts all voting for the
mayor is impossible for voters and IPs alone to hold the mayor mayor accountable for these decisions. Of property tax dollars remains unclear when transparency around this money is essential to the public trust. There is little information about how accountability will work in practice. It seems to come down to control facilities. But this requires cooperation in alignment for multiple operators. And there's still disagreement. We even within this body about the level of authority this group would actually have when it comes to forcing a school as these operations. And it is still unclear how this will actually help solve the financial challenges for ips, which has been repeatedly emphasize as one of the main reasons for the creation of this body in the first place while mandatory participation in a unified bus system will help with both efficiency and access. And I'm grateful for
that. If there's too much variation in the levels of service or lack of cost sharing for those services, it could still negatively impact both the cost savings and equity of access. This plan potentially does not go far enough to realize cost savings for IPs on things like special education services, McKinney, Vento, transportation, et cetera, areas where the district shoulders a disproportionate share of the expenses. I do not feel comfortable voting yes to these recommendations. I do look forward to continuing this work into the legislative session. As grateful as I am to get a short break from this work for the holidays. This is not something that I get to walk away from. I will live with the consequences of these decisions every single day. As as a mob. Trying to navigate the remainder of my sons, public education. As a teacher working directly with students who deserve pundit resources
towards excellent education. As a longtime resident of East 10th Street who wants to see her community truly thrive. As as advocate to the legislature and beyond the coming months and years, I will continue to hear the voices of students, families, teachers and community members and try my best to help build a sustainable ecosystem of educational excellence in our city. No matter what happens tonight. Thank you. Further discussion by any other alliance members. If you want defend your decision. Here's I will provide comment you know, for me. So much of comes back to. A young man that I worked with for several I served as a pastor. The church in the Brookside neighborhood. And
for these purposes, you know, I'll just says his name, mark. For Mark. He struggled as he bounced between. Many different school types many different government systems. And there were several years where we tried to find a good school for Mark. We didn't know where he would land. All I knew was I wanted to see Mark graduate now want to see him walk across that stage and I want to be there to celebrate him. And so when we thought we had found the school system school structure that would work really well for Mark. We were dismayed when we found out that they did not offer transportation. And so we planned strategized we thought about how maybe even even us that the church, the pastoral team would get
up. 06:00am and we would pick markup and we would we would take him to school. If that was the best option for Mark. We're going to try to figure out a way to make it work. So while I absolutely echo Dr Johnson's comments that the this is an imperfect plant is absolutely perfect for sure. But there are 2 things I want to point out. I want to point attention to. And to call out how important that this is. One. Is that we are requiring transportation for all schools, all school types. And this is because it is a significant equity issue. And I know there's some individuals out there who fear how that will impact their schools or how that will impact their systems. But I'm telling you, this is
opportunity. Excuse me. That this is an opportunity for the students. The ones that I serve every single day, the ones that because of a fragmented system continue to fall through the cracks and we are on. Outside trying to help them navigate the systems. So I am proud that we're going to require all schools to participate in this unified system. And then the second create the second thing that I want to The second thing I want to say is I'm proud. That we are going to request the state House. Finally fully fund the special education gap that exists. The ips continues to bear the cost for Those those students deserve to have the services that they need
move her tonight that those in the special education population, those and Al and those who experience housing, instability deserve to have their services fully funded. So wow, wow, this is not a perfect it proposal. I can tell you. I am eager to move forward with this. Thing drives every day. The thing that drives me every day. Chrissy. The thing that drives me every day is not the launch of a political campaign or the hope of what could be for my career. The thing that drives me every day is a young man named Mark. And I expect to see him walk across that stage. Thank Further discussion from alliance
members, you are. Are out of the I first off. I do want thank you. Thank Superintendent. Thank all the members of alliance. Ford. Really just delving into an issue that very critical, Tony, for all of us to solve As far I looked, I came into this with a certain mindset, that was based on 20 plus years of advocacy, 20 certain position and thinking that because I have that experience, whether it was the charter board experience or just school choice advocacy that I knew and that would have where the site work. You deserve yes, sir. Sorry, One of the things left that I was very blessed with this experience is that it has tested my. Thought processes
on things that I just knew were absolutely cases are related to to traditional public and charters. I'm thankful that leaders with courage and experience like my colleague to my right help me to look at perspectives that really helped inform more. Holistic view, then I think even the presentation tonight really suggests I will not vote no, I will absolutely vote in favor of this because I believe it is a proposal that while not perfect I look forward. I look forward to continuing this process. Even with those who MAY not support or vote for this because to the earlier point. If there's one thing I've taken away from. My experiences, both good and bad and the school choice movement, it is. They've even the best-laid best ideas with ideas that have the most mayor now from a perception standpoint, can be
bass eyes can exploited can be used in ways that further cause additional problems, which is why it is so important for us to maintain a level engagement follows a spirit of what I know that we have engaged throughout this process. So I would encourage all of us to continue to look at this proposal scrutinize the continued ask questions if there's one thing that I've tried to do about making arrests. But there's one thing that I've tried to do if there's one thing that I've tried to do. He needs to demonstrate a level of openness, accessibility and objectivity that I will continue that I will continue to welcome throughout this process. So again, my gratitude is to this entire I I was always to continue to work, to try to create the most equitable system public that all or public school students can be served. And so
thank you all. I am looking forward to voting in favor and in support of this process. I look forward to the people. Thank you. A further discussion by alliance members of the seeing no further discussion. We will proceed to a vote. Do I have a motion? I move to move to a vote on the final recommendations to House. Second. Have motion and a second. All those in favor of moving our final recommendations regarding the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation to the Indiana General Assembly say Aye, I all those opposed say no, no. This motion passes 8 to one.