SL ATED FOR CLOSURE
IPS school closings leave students, teachers wondering ‘What’s Next? ’
By Alex Dixon, Assistant Web Editor
For the majority of working-class America, people depend on
the income that accompanies a full-time job. Now imagine, work-
ing for several years at a single location, and one day being told
that you and your colleagues are getting fired. However, you can
reapply for the same job at one of the different IPS locations. This
is exactly what happened to teachers, administration, and janitorial
staff working for the four IPS schools that are being closed.
Indianapolis Public Schools, abbreviated locally as IPS, is the
largest school district in the state of Indiana with 30,097 students
enrolled for the 2013-2014 school year. As IPS is working towards
the reorganization of their high school systems, Arlington, Broad
Ripple, John Marshall, and Northwest High Schools are slated for
closure next year. The reorganization is said to include the closing
and selling of four IPS High Schools and multiple service buildings
in hopes of saving money.
Both Arlington and Northwest are to reopen as middle schools
under the IPS new administration’s plan. However, the district is
looking to sell Broad Ripple and John Marshall Community High
Schools alongside two central service buildings. The district is
planning on the closing of John Marshall Community High School,
which was already set to operate as a middle school for the 2017-
2018 school year. The closures of these locations are set to save ap-
proximately $4 million a year.
The IPS school district has received numerous complaints from
affected families, who have been involved in protests outside the
IPS headquarters. The community is outraged as they feel they
have been left out of the decision-making process. Superintendent
Lewis Ferebee told IndyStar “We’ll continue to ensure (community
members) are an integral part of the process” as a way to bounce
back against the negative remarks.
As for the students and teachers of the four affected schools, over
300 teachers are being asked to reapply for open positions and the
remaining four IPS schools while students are waiting on transfer
Source: Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana Department of Education
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documents.
There are many unseen decisions that administration makes.
“I have witnessed our administration make difficult business de-
cisions that may appear to not make sense, but benefit the students.
When this has happened the teachers may not agree with all the
decisions that have been made but, comply and continue teach-
ing because student success is our end goal. They keep their focus
on what is really important, the students,” second grade Zionsville
teacher, Lynne Munley said.
The closing of IPS schools has come and gone, with little impact
on the daily lives of students or families in Zionsville. It is because
of its minute effect on our town that the people of Zionsville hav-
en’t taken any action. It is hard for students coming from Zions-
ville, a well-funded, four-star school, to even process the idea that
our school could ever close.
“As a student of Zionsville, I know for sure that my school will
never have to close due to a lack of funding. I can’t begin to imagine
how the students going through this feel,” Zionsville senior, Sydney
Bevelhimer, said.
Students of the closing IPS high schools are now being put in a
position that creates a difficult environment for them to gain new
resources for colleges and future career opportunities. This differs
from the common perspective, known as “The Zionsville Bubble,”
where students of Zionsville are seemingly guaranteed resources
for college and career support in the future.
“I would feel very discouraged because all the hard work I have
put in over the years would be in a bad position as I approach col-
lege,” Erin Brooks, senior, said.
Students and teachers working their way through the education
system each need certain building blocks. Each block pertains to
a different person or resource we need in order to succeed. The
most important thing is a sufficient and supportive school system.
These schools become students home over the course of four years.
The school supports them and follow them through their trials and
tribulations as students. They provide the mentorship and the sup-
port that the students need for success in the future.
As for the estimated 2,300 students of Arlington, Broad Ripple,
John Marshal, and Northwest High Schools, they are in the pro-
cess of losing one of the most influential parts of their lives. These
students have grown up within those halls, and now they are being
forced out. Their lives are about to change dramatically.
11/1/2017 1:39:34 PM