State Board Delays Vote On Proposed Charter School For Broad Ripple High School

Updated at 4:30 p.m. 

The Indiana Charter School Board postponed a vote Tuesday on an application for a K-12 school that organizers want to open at the soon-to-be-closed Broad Ripple High School.

Board staff recommended the application due be denied due to numerous concerns with the proposed budget and curriculum. 

"... the application does not present a specific and cohesive actionable educational model based on research-based best practices with concrete implementation strategies," according to a report by the board.

The HIM by HER Foundation, founded by an Indianapolis detective, proposed a performing arts-focused school for at-risk youth. The nonprofit’s name stands for Helping Improve Mankind by Healing Every Race.

During Tuesday's meeting Secretary of State Connie Lawson and State Representative John Bartlett asked the board to approve the charter. 

Even as state charter board members support the idea of the school and the make-up of the proposed staff, they say there are too many concerns about the proposal to vote on it now.

“It is really substandard in terms of quality and attention to detail," board member Janet Rummel says. 

Board members also raised an issue with the proposed location of the school, Broad Ripple High School. The application lacked a clear plan to get access of the facility as Indianapolis Public School leaders have said they want to sell the building at a market rate.

After more than an hour of discussion board members said they wanted the foundation to provide more clarity. In an unusual step, Indiana Charter School Board gave the foundation until November to address the concerns.

Original post

The Indiana Charter School Board will vote today on an application for a K-12 charter school that organizers hope to open at the soon-to-be-closed Broad Ripple High School.

The board meets at 2 p.m. at Indiana Government Center South Conference Center, Room C. The meeting will also be live-streamed here.

A foundation for at-risk youth is seeking the charter to open a performing arts-focused school on the city's Northside. Indianapolis detective Harry Dunn co-founded the HIM by HER Foundation. The nonprofit’s name stands for Helping Improve Mankind by Healing Every Race.

Dunn says the school would provide physical and mental health counseling.

Read More: Proposed Charter School At Broad Ripple High School Draws Support From Lawmaker, Educators

If the State Charter School Board approves the foundations' application, it’s unclear what would happen next. 

Indianapolis Public Schools will close Broad Ripple High School this summer but district leaders want to sell the building at a market rate but are prohibited by state law.

During this year's General Assembly, IPS leaders asked state lawmakers to change a rule that blocks traditional public school corporations from selling empty buildings without first allow charter schools the option to buy or lease them.

Lawmakers did not approve the request. IPS Superintendent Lewis Ferebee said he would speak with lawmakers during the 2019 General Assembly about allowing the sale of the building.

This story will be updated.