The Indianapolis Public Schools Board of School Commissioners convened for its Board Action Session on Thursday, May 28. Topics included the COVID-19 response update, an update to the school corporation profile and details about a memorandum of understanding for John Marshall High School.
What follows is a deeper look at those agenda items.
COVID-19 Response Update
Superintendent Aleesia Johnson provided an update on the district’s COVID-19 response during the school closures.
What Audiences Need to Know:
Meal Distribution
- IPS Food Service is distributing meals at 16 school sites and two apartment complexes.
- Meal distribution takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays.
- Since the school closures started March 13, the district — through the IPS Food Service team — has served more than 325,000 meals.
- Meals are available to any child age 18 and younger.
- The partnership with Gleaners for food box distribution continues Mondays and Fridays from 4–6 p.m. Each family receives a box of non-perishable food items. Since March, 17- and 25-pound boxes have been distributed.
- More than 61,000 food boxes have been distributed through the Gleaners program to date at an investment of $1.6M.
- We intend to offer breakfast and lunch meals over the summer on Mondays and Wednesdays at same sites. Updated info on website next week.
Academics
- Home Learning will wrap up for students next Tuesday, June 2.
- Virtual graduations for our high school students will be held June 4 and 5.
- IPS continues to work and plan for the transition to being a district that has 1:1 device structure. This will be an important enabling condition as the district plans for next year.
- The district appreciates continued attention around internet connectivity gaps and will continue to advocate and participate in possible solutions for our students.
- 2020-21 School Year Options
- IPS is considering a number of scenarios as the district continues to talk with and hear from city and state officials as well as look across the country in how other systems are responding.
- The district has identified the following non-negotiables that will help guide our work:
- Social distancing, including caps on group sizes and distances between people.
- COVID-specific safety protocols must be in place at all schools.
- A full-time e-learning option must be available to all students who must opt-out of in-person school.
- The district must be able to quickly implement e-learning for 100% of students if rolling closures occur.
- Extended time options must be available for the neediest students.
- Social emotional learning will be prioritized, but will need to evolve to be responsive to the needs of students.
Resources
- The IPS Education Equity Fund
- The IPS Education Equity Fund, launched by the IPS Foundation, has raised nearly $600,000.
- Major corporate sponsors include Chiefs for Change, Apex Benefits, Indianapolis Colts, LDI Limited and Cincinnati Bell and Utah Jazz player Mike Conley.
- Individual gifts have also come in from a number of people, including school commissioners, alumni, and executive leadership team members.
- The IPS Foundation
- The IPS Foundation Rapid Response Micro Grant cycle is open.
- The foundation is accepting applications for projects that will provide direct support to students and teachers impacted by COVID-19.
- The application deadline is Friday, May 29 at 5 p.m.
School Corporation Amendment Profile
IPS Director of Enrollment and Options Patrick Herrel presented the annual summary of school changes approved by the IPS Board of School Commissioners.
What Audiences Need to Know:
This summary is required by the Indiana Department of Education and must include new school openings, school closures, building reconfigurations, name changes and baseline reset requests for the 2020–21 school year.
Key Messages:
- New School Openings
- Emmerich Manual High School
This school will transition from a state-managed turnaround school to an in-LEA Innovation school for Grades 10–12.
- School Closures and Transitions
- Phalen at Francis Scott Key School 103
This school will transition from an in-LEA Innovation school to an Innovation Charter School.
- Louis B. Russell School 48
This school will transition from a traditional school to an Innovation Charter School.
- Stephen Foster School 67
This school will transition from a traditional school to an Innovation Charter School.
- Emma Donnan Elementary School
This school will transition from an in-LEA Innovation school to an Innovation Charter School.
- Emma Donnan Middle School
This school will transition from a state-managed turnaround school to an Innovation Charter School.
- Howe Middle and High School
This school will close for the 2020-21 school year.
- Kindezi at Joyce Kilmer School 69
This school has been converting, grade-by-grade, into an Innovation Charter School.
The school will officially transition from an in-LEA Innovation school to an Innovation Charter School.
- Building Reconfigurations
- Thrival Indy Academy
This school is transitioning from 11th grade-only programming to Grades 9–12, starting with the 9th grade.
- Cold Spring School
This school will transition from a K–6 to a K–8 school starting with adding 7th grade in the 2020–21 school year.
- Butler Lab at Eliza Blaker 55
This is the final year of expansion from a Pre-K–6 to Pre-K–8 school.
- James A. Garfield School 31, William Penn School 49, Brookside School 54, George W. Julian School 57, Carl Wilde School 79, Christian Park School 82, George S. Buck School 94, Charles Warren Fairbanks School 105, Lew Wallace School 107, Jonathan Jennings School 109, Daniel Webster School 46
These schools are expanding to add Pre-K to allow for Special Education accountability reporting by boundary school as well as to more easily allow for movement of Pre-K special programming across the district.
This, however, does not mean each building will house Pre-K. At this time, it only means IPS can associate Pre-K students in special programs to their own boundary school.
ACTION: Approved 6-0
John Marshall MOU
IPS Chief of Operations Scott Martin presented a Memorandum of Understanding between the IPS Board of School Commissioners and Garcia and Associates, Thomas P. Miller and Associates, CAFÉ, Glick Philanthropies and Halstead Architects (also known as JMC) to participate in a conceptual and pre-development exploratory phase to transform the John Marshall site into a state-of-the-art Opportunity Hub for far eastside residents with the intent to purchase building in Fall/Winter 2020.
What Audiences Need to Know
- The building was previously declared as surplus with IDOE.
- The district is excited and encouraged by the opportunity for the building to be leveraged as a community asset and support for residents.
Key Messages
The vision is to transform the John Marshall site into a state-of-the-art Opportunity Hub for far eastside residents. It will become a gathering place for residents of all ages as well as service providers and area employers. It will provide direct access to services and opportunities and offer amenities and activities intended to enhance the quality of life for far eastside stakeholders.
Programs may include but are not limited to:
- Job training and placement
- Hiring and recruitment services
- Skills and vocational training
- Entrepreneurship Courses
- Connected services and transit-oriented development
- Direct employment connections to major employers
- Improved neighborhood mobility
- Youth-centered engagement and activities
- Food Security
- Household reinforcement
- Affordable health care and childcare
- Neighborhood design with diversified mixed-use housing and business services
ACTION: Approved 6-0