I heard the rumors, but now I know they’re true. IPS leaders have been considering a plan that would shrink the boundaries of the district down to Center Township. They outlined this idea this week at their town hall meeting.
As an IPS dad and uncle who has been very invested in this district, I’m shocked and angry about this idea. Apparently, this idea has gained some momentum. While some IPS board members told attendees at the town hall on Tuesday that this vision for a Center Township district is only being raised to get community input, other board members took to the microphone to sell the idea.
One commissioner, Gayle Cosby, told the packed gym at school 88 that there are good reasons to consider dismantling IPS. She suggested keeping only the schools in Center Township lines. She said this plan offers a simple way to efficiently close schools. Another commissioner confirmed in our table discussion that some IPS leaders have already talked to leaders of the township schools about this idea.
This whole effort feels like a betrayal by IPS. When they put up the slides Tuesday night, they didn’t showcase the families that have supported IPS. Families like mine have been strongly supportive of every IPS referendum. In fact, I’ve actually joined other parents at Stand knocking doors to win voter support for investing in IPS and our school buildings. I have been an amazing supporter of this board. I have even campaigned or voted for many of them. So it is truly hurtful to learn that now IPS is thinking about handing those schools over to townships. Or, as the previously mentioned commissioner talked about, moving to close those schools that fall outside of the Center Township boundary.
I want the opposite of this plan.
That’s why I joined parents, teachers and students pushing for a vision for IPS. This vision would grow the student population to 42,000 (not reduce it by thousands). This plan would expand transportation. Additionally, it would hold all schools – charters and IPS traditional schools – to account for getting great results for kids.
One other parent said it at the meeting. This idea of ending IPS and creating a smaller Center Township school district seems to be already in motion. It was clear from the slides that somebody has brought this up.
If ya’ll broke, say that. But we can’t advocate to help if plans are in motion that we don’t know about. We can’t support a plan that closes so much of the district for reasons unknown. Or reasons that aren’t rooted in the question I ask myself before I ever make a suggestion. And that question I ask myself is simple: “what’s best for kids, for ALL our kids.”
While I am very frustrated right now, the one thing I do know for certain is this: It’s up to us to advocate for something better for our students and our communities.
