Brewer Wants More Mayoral Control Over IPS If Elected

Chuck Brewer would seek more influence over the Indianapolis public school system if he is elected mayor.

Brewer, the Republican candidate for mayor, began rolling out his policy platform by talking about his ideas for education Thursday morning. He stood in front of the IPS Butler Laboratory magnet school on Pennsylvania Ave.

"Now the mayor doesn’t have control of the schools, but the schools have an incredible impact on the success of our city," he said. "So I think we need to be even more involved, as the educational impact is connected to our overall success."

Brewer wants to be able to appoint two members to the Indianapolis school board, which he acknowledged would require state legislative action. He wants to appoint one Democrat and one Republican to the now all-elected seven member board.

A deputy mayoral position for education would be maintained, Brewer said.

Also in his education agenda, the Republican wants to expand access to pre-Kindergarten, saying 1,000 spots is not enough. 

Enrollment and evaluation of Indianapolis Public Schools and charter schools, which the mayor has more direct control over, would be streamlined, Brewer said. He'd like to create a single enrollment portal for either IPS or charter schools.

"A single evaluation and a single enrollment system is going to allow parents to apply an apples to apple comparison to public schools in the district. It’s going to allow them to make the best decision for their children," he said.

The image of the city's public school system, and particularly the one that bares the city's name, is crucial to attracting people to Indianapolis and encouraging them to raise families within city limits.

There are 11 school districts within Marion County. Brewer said he has been working on meeting with the superintendents of each of them.

Brewer, a small business owner, is running against Democrat and former prosecutor, Joe Hogsett.