More than 80 chairs filled the second-level conference room in the Julia Carson Government Center recently, but only about 15 to 20 of those chairs were filled. Indianapolis Public Schools kicked off its series of town hall meetings hoping to inform parents and guardians of changes the district plans to make for the upcoming school year.
Those in attendance were told about the new 100 propane-fueled school buses the district is adding, along with a few other changes such as grade configuration, school bell schedules and bus schedules. Parents who did attend the session asked the district representatives several questions, voiced their concerns and shared praises.
Janette Johnson, who has one student in eighth grade and two in the ninth grade, was one of the meeting’s attendees.
“I have decided I want to be a part of decision making. I can’t do that at home; I have to be out in the community,” said Johnson, adding she hopes her presence will also encourage other parents to do the same. “Most of the time they (IPS) make decisions, but no one is here. I was very disappointed to see this small of a crowd. I thought more people would be in attendance, but I have to figure out what I can do to get parents here.”
One item on the agenda discussed the current environment for middle school students. The district would like to move those in the seventh and eighth grades into their own building, hoping to help them focus more academically and foster more personal growth.
Johnson said she believes this is a good idea in the long run.
“The seventh and eighth, even some of the ninth grade, aren’t ready to be in the same building with the high school students, so that was very comforting to me.”
During the meeting, other schooling options in IPS were mentioned. When the Recorder asked Johnson about these schooling options, such as the new innovation network schools being put in place, she said she had no idea the district offered that type of education.
“We need to know what’s available to everybody. In a way, they need to brand themselves better,” she said.
Another concerned parent in attendance was Ronald Rice, whose daughter is a student at Crispus Attucks Medical Magnet School. Rice said although he didn’t receive a voicemail from Attucks’ principal until the evening before the scheduled meeting, he decided it was important to show up.
“I was expecting more people, but with IPS, normally people don’t show up, and it’s all about communication. Other than the voicemail, I wouldn’t have heard of this. It could have come through email, but I’m not even sure there is an email list,” said Rice, who mentioned he also thought it was peculiar to have the meeting set for 9 a.m. the day after the Memorial Day holiday.
Although he said most of the information presented was helpful, a large amount of it didn’t apply to him, because his daughter is in high school. Rice said his daughter, who will be a junior this fall, has had an “iffy” experience at Attucks.
“The biggest problem with Attucks is communication. We like the new principal, but we like the old principal better. However, the new principal has only been there a year. All IPS unfortunately has spent more time on discipline and talking to their kids and us about it; they don’t give their kids a bright outlook to their future,” he said.
Rice said his daughter studies art in school but later wants to go to college to become a medical illustrator.
“It would be nice if careers like that, for instance, were known. How do you take this overwhelming hill that these kids are looking at and show them the way to get over the hill? You don’t have to walk them over the hill, but help them along the way. They say, ‘Here’s ISTEP, and I need you to pass this test and not fight.’
“All of their energy is spent there, and a lot of parents feel as if IPS doesn’t want to talk to them and their attitude is, the less IPS communicates and the less people show up, then eventually they will get rid of IPS all together. Look at the attendance here. But some parents feel as if they are informed at the last minute or at 9 a.m. on a school day, but those who probably need to be here have to work.”
Upcoming IPS town hall meetings:
June 4, 9–10:30 a.m.
Concord Neighborhood Center, 1310 S. Meridian St.
June 6, 9–10:30 a.m.
Forest Manor Multi-Services Center, 5603 E. 38th St.
June 9, 6–7:30 p.m.
Christian Park and Family Center, 4200 English Ave.
June 14, 6–7:30 p.m.
Indianapolis Public Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.
June 16, 6–7:30 p.m.
New Wineskin Ministries, 4501 38th St.
