IPS, mayor to draft a plan for charters to use schools, buses. It may be behind closed doors

A new alliance between Indianapolis Public Schools and the city’s mayor is expected to develop a plan for how to share school buildings and school buses between district and public charter schools — but for now, it’s only a first step in possible changes.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, who will serve as chairman of the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, will oversee a review of how IPS manages its facilities and transportation as more students attend charter schools. The alliance must meet by July 1 and produce a plan by the end of the year.

However, it’s unclear how much the public will know about what goes on in the group’s meetings.

Hogsett asked lawmakers to ensure ILEA is not subject to the state’s Open Door Law. The law requires certain entities to meet in a public setting and allow members of the public to attend. 

Without the requirement, the ILEA can meet behind closed doors before they emerge with a plan by the end of the year. The alliance can choose to have public meetings throughout the months-long process.

The alliance must submit a plan about school facilities and transportation sharing by Dec. 31 to the Secretary of Education, IPS board and Hogsett’s office. 

“The City and Indianapolis Public Schools are aligned on and committed to creating an efficient, transparent structure to carry out the critical work of the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance,” a city spokesperson wrote in an email to WFYI. “As the Alliance conducts this work, there will be opportunities for community input and public meetings.”

House Bill 1515, which now holds the alliance and an optional, statewide pilot program for facilities and transportation consolidation between districts, passed out of the House late Thursday. The legislation now goes to Gov. Mike Braun.

The alliance gives the Mayor’s Office a crucial role in the future of the state’s largest school district. District officials have been under pressure from former mayors to change how they operate. And transportation, specifically, has emerged as a concern among school choice advocates and some families because charter schools have struggled to provide it. 

Nearly 40% of students who live in IPS boundaries attend charter schools.

The nine-member group includes IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson, Hogsett, and parent representatives from both traditional and charter schools within district boundaries. Both Johnson and Hogsett have appointments to the group. 

The alliance also seeks to start conversations about charter schools and sharing resources related to transportation and facilities.  

The legislation also pauses the creation of new charter schools in the district from July to December, except for the mayor's authorizing office’s board. Hogsett requested the temporary pause.

Rachel Fradette is the WFYI Statehouse education reporter. Contact Rachel at rfradette@wfyi.org.