IPS support staff, administrators get raises of 3 percent or more
Indianapolis Public Schools is giving raises to about 1,700 employees, less than three months after voters approved an increase in property taxes to boost school funding.
Education & Workforce Development
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IPS board rejects acquisition bids for downtown headquarters
The IPS board on Thursday unanimously voted against two bids for the district’s downtown headquarters because they didn’t come close to the $7 million the district had hoped to receive for the property.
Drug shows promise against blood cancer
Researchers, led by Purdue chemistry professor Herman O. Sintim, are developing a series of drug compounds they say have shown promise in treating acute myeloid leukemia.
Price tag steep to make teacher salary competitive in Indiana, report says
Indiana is so far behind neighboring states in teacher compensation that it would cost an estimated $658 million to make salaries more competitive, according to a new report released Tuesday.
Developers bid on IPS downtown HQ, but district leaders unimpressed
Indianapolis Public Schools staffers are expected to ask the board this week to reject two proposals to buy the district’s downtown headquarters, after the offers came in well below expectations.
Bill to make civics test a graduation requirement advances at Statehouse
Sen. Dennis Kruse, R- Auburn, said he authored the bill to ensure high school students would better understand their government and country.
Scott Jones is back in town determined to make his mark—again
After nearly four years away from Indiana, local tech luminary Scott Jones has returned to central Indiana. And he’s returned with gusto, supercharging Eleven Fifty Academy and helping advance a life-sciences company he says can “transform medicine on multiple fronts.”
Holcomb hits some workforce goals, still faces hurdles on others
In 2018, Holcomb boldly outlined specific goals, One year later, he has exceeded some targets, but hasn’t met other goals.
Rocked by scandal, weakened teachers union faces uncertain future
Fewer than half of Indianapolis Public Schools teachers are members of the Indianapolis Education Association, and some wonder if there is any point in paying dues to join a weakened union that seems to offer them very little.
Bill would give schools voting power on redevelopment commissions
Similar measures that would have given the school representatives a voting position on redevelopment commissions have failed in the previous sessions.
Fluoride toothpaste inventors from IU win posthumous fame
Joseph Muhler and William Nebergall will be inducted May 2 in Washington, D.C., along with 17 other inventors and innovators.
Study of IPS shows new innovation schools might be bright spot
In the first major look at the results for innovation schools in IPS—a new kind of district-charter partnership—there are some positive signs but still some unanswered questions.
House committee passes tighter rules for virtual schools
House Bill 1172, authored by Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, outlines new rules to better assess and guide the educators, parents and students engaged in virtual school.
Panel backs proposal to move up appointing state schools chief
Indiana’s governor would begin appointing the state schools superintendent in 2021 instead of 2025, under a proposal endorsed Wednesday by the House Education Committee. Voters traditionally have elected the superintendent.
Legislators try to get tighter grip on virtual charter schools
New proposals stem from recommendations made by education officials, including potential solutions to low test scores and graduation rates, a lack of student and parent participation, and the need to improve their oversight.
Gov. Holcomb announces plan to pay off pension liability, free up money for teacher raises
On Tuesday night, Holcomb said in his State of the State speech that the state will use $150 million from its surplus to pay off a teacher pension liability that schools have been gradually paying down.
IU establishes new research center focused on inclusion, socioeconomic barriers
The Center for Research on Inclusion & Social Policy is in the process of developing several projects, including a study of international migration to Indiana, evictions in Indiana counties and the impact of race on homeownership, based on a recent report by the Brookings Institution.
IBJ Podcast: What will The Mind Trust’s big infusion of cash mean for Indy schools?
The Mind Trust CEO Brandon Brown sat down with host Mason King to explain the group’s mission, its cooperation with Indianapolis Public Schools and how the new funding will help it ramp up its work.
Indy Eleven downplays Broad Ripple High School as potential stadium site
The Indy Eleven has expressed interest in the former Broad Ripple High School site as a potential location for its proposed stadium development, but the team tapped the brakes on that possibility Friday, noting it is continuing to evaluate multiple options.
IPS board aims for a quick search process to select the new superintendent
The board hopes to announce a formal process for selecting a superintendent next week. Ideally, it would like to conclude the search around March without using an outside firm.