This brief is adapted from notes taken by Documenters John Guy and Scott Murff, who covered the February IPS Parent Council meeting. 📝Read more about what happened.
Over 100 parents gathered for the inaugural Indianapolis Public Schools Parent Council to discuss the House Bills threatening the over 170-year-old school district.
Organized by Kristen Phair, parents and speakers shared fears, frustrations and concerns for the future of IPS.
Phair said that parents want distilled information and tools to take action against legislation. She said parents want a platform for collective action, to elevate concerns and to support the district.
“The ultimate goal is for every school to be represented on our council and for our council to reflect the demographics of our families,” she said.
Anderson York, an IPS parent, described House Bill 1136 as a loaded gun. He said the bill is a negotiation tactic between IPS, charter schools and the state.
“This bill was written to force IPS to come to the negotiation table,” he said.
He described HB 1136’s tax implications. “Taxpayers would no longer be able to elect a board to decide how to use your tax dollars. The board would be generated by the governor, mayor and other school interest groups.”
He said the bill would throw students and families into chaos with parents not knowing where their child would attend school.
York also shared information about HB 1501, a facilities and transportation pilot program, which he said has the highest odds of passing if the board doesn’t negotiate.
Carla Alderman-Schmid, president of the Washington Township Parent Council network, informed parents on the importance of testifying at the Statehouse.
She said letters and phone calls to legislators are useful, but the most powerful is in-person testimony at a committee hearing. “There’s nothing like looking at your legislators in the face and standing up in a group of like-minded folks.”
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