Some Indianapolis Public Schools parents are protesting a recent decision to split some elementary teachers’ time between schools.
The district began reaching out to teachers in eight elementary schools in February to inform them their assignments will be changed next school year.
Rather than keep one dedicated teacher for certain subjects at each school, the district has decided to divide some teachers’ time between two schools. The change affects subjects such as art, music, gym and computer science — all classes elementary students attend in rotations throughout the week.
IPS administrators say students in affected schools won’t lose any class time in these subjects, sometimes called related arts or specials. And, the decision is being made to optimize the time instructors spend teaching, according to a statement to Mirror Indy from an IPS spokesperson.
Any teacher displaced from their job will be provided another position in the district, according to the IPS statement. But, it’s unclear how many teachers and which schools will be affected. The district’s statement didn’t directly address these questions and an IPS spokesperson did not make an administrator available for an interview.
“Historically, IPS has shared teachers between buildings,” the statement reads, in part. “This is a practice that has been in place for years and helps us maintain our commitment to providing all students with access to a well-rounded education.”
Rebuilding Stronger promises questioned
Parents, however, are raising concerns that affected teachers won’t have the same time to lead afterschool clubs and organize special events if asked to split their time between more than one school.
The change comes at a time when parents are writing letters and attending public hearings in support of IPS as it seeks to rally against Republican lawmakers’ efforts to push some property tax money away from traditional public school districts and into nearby charter schools.
Martha Latta, the mother of a fourth grader at Theodore Potter School 74, said she first found out about the changes from talking to her daughter’s teachers. The school’s interim principal later sent an email to families.
Latta said the decision runs counter to IPS’ commitment during its Rebuilding Stronger reorganization to offer art and music classes to all elementary schools in an effort to create equity in neighborhoods once underserved by such programs.
“You can’t argue with me and tell me that it’s equitable when you’re not doing it to all the schools,” Latta said. “My husband, he has spent an insane amount of time in the last month and a half testifying at school board meetings, testifying at the Statehouse. This just felt like a kick in the pants.”
In their statement, IPS officials say the change comes alongside another staffing decision to increase reading support and literacy coach roles across the district. It’s unclear how this relates to specials classes specifically and those who lead them. But, officials said instructional time in the classes will remain the same next year.
“Having access to music, physical education, art and computer science is a key commitment of Rebuilding Stronger,” the statement reads, in part. “That commitment remains the same.”
‘Related arts’ teachers go beyond the classroom
It’s unclear exactly what a divided schedule will look like for teachers. Latta said she’s heard that some teachers’ days could be divided in half between schools while others may spend two to three days a week at one school and the remaining days at another school.
She worries the split would allow teachers less time to plan for big events, such as Potter’s Winter Community Day and Spring Multicultural Day, traditionally organized by the school’s music teacher.
Potter’s music teacher also leads a keyboard club and strings club, Latta said. Its gym teacher is also the athletic director and leads futsal and running clubs with an archery club on the way.
Angie Cazares, who has two kids at the school, said she doesn’t worry about the quality of teachers newly assigned to Potter, but she is concerned about potentially losing instructors that her kids have already gotten to know. She also worries about how teachers will build effective relationships with students of not just one school, but two.
“You’re doubling the parents they interact with, you’re doubling the staff they have to get to know,” Cazares said. “It’s not just a little work you’re adding onto their plate. It’s completely doubling their workload.”
IPS officials, in their provided statement, said while some students may have a different teacher next year, the district will still offer after-school clubs and team activities. The statement didn’t address concerns about teachers’ workloads.
“We are confident this adjustment will allow our teachers to maximize instructional time while maintaining the engaging and high-quality related arts education our students enjoy,” the statement reads, in part.
IPS parents take concerns to the board
Some IPS parents are asking administrators to reverse the decision.
Potter’s parent-teacher organization is circulating an online petition with more than 100 signatures collected, and 10 parents, staff and students spoke at IPS’ board meeting Feb. 27.
Michelle Pleasant, who has three kids at George Julian School 57, urged the IPS board and administration to reconsider a decision she feels goes against another tenet of Rebuilding Stronger: building strong school communities.
“Related arts teachers are more than just educators,” Pleasant said during the board’s public comment period. “They are mentors and consistent, trusted adults for our children. They are the foundation of our school communities.”
Board members didn’t directly address comments during the board meeting. Commissioner Ashley Thomas, though, said she visited Potter, along with neighboring Harshman Middle School, the day before.
“I really appreciate the leadership in both of those buildings, as well as assistant principals, staff that also gave me marching orders on things that they need for their kids to better serve their kids,” Thomas said of the visits.
The IPS board meets next for a non-voting work session at 6 p.m. March 10 at the John Morton-Finney Education Center, 120 E. Walnut St.
Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.
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