District management
Four Indiana school districts asked voters to approve funding to retain teachers and fund programs. As of Tuesday night, voters said yes to Pike schools.
Nikki Woodson became superintendent in 2011. Since then, the student body’s racial diversity has increased and enrollment has fluctuated.
The district is also increasing wages for all other support staff.
The district wants to use some of the funding to expand a student-led program that teaches nonviolence.
The union says it has the right to negotiate the issue. The district says that’s not required under state law.
Superintendent Aleesia Johnson used her speech to invite Indianapolis families to consider the district’s offerings.
A lack of oversight has raised questions about whether schools are following Indiana law.
Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI are partnering to provide more coverage of the township school districts and the students they educate.
Some schools aren’t accurately reporting data about what’s supposed to be a last resort to protect the safety of students and others.
The administrative change follows a difficult few years for North Central High School, which faced a federal lawsuit alleging predatory grooming behavior and psychological abuse by the school’s former theater director.
Parents in Perry Township can still send their child to an elementary school outside of their new attendance zone, as long as they provide transportation and there is space for them.
School officials say short-term solutions to the driver shortage don’t go far enough.
Some advocacy groups downplay the role of big campaign spending, but others see a chilling effect.
Indiana reported an 8.5 percentage point drop in reading scores on state tests among third graders learning English.
Eight districts across Indiana have referendums on the ballot this November.
Two of Hope Hampton’s biggest financial backers are political action committees linked to the education advocacy groups RISE Indy and Stand for Children Indiana.
A voter-approved tax increase could pay for construction projects included in the plan.
There are four candidates for three positions on the IPS board.
The Pike Township candidates will seek to stabilize the district after a tumultuous year that included staff protests and declining test scores.
Proposed changes include four enrollment zones, seven school closures and grade changes at 39 schools.