For Immediate Release:

PARENTS PAC ENDORSES INCUMBENT MICHAEL BROWN FOR THE AT-LARGE SEAT OF THE IPS BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS

Who Are We?

The Parents for Public Education Political Action Committee is a group of IPS school parents who work on a 100% volunteer basis to help improve our schools. Since 1996, PPE has been involved in legislative and administrative issues that affect the school district that educates our children. Starting in 1998, we began the process of interviewing candidates for IPS Board of School Commissioners, and endorsing those candidates we believed would best represent the interests of families in the IPS system, as well as the entire community in which IPS resides.

Why We Endorse Candidates

In 1998, we determined that it was necessary for parents to get involved School Board elections; the board, at the time, was fractured and divided. Board members were fighting publicly, which discouraged constructive activities towards improving the system. Parents felt helpless – it was time to “put up or shut up.” We interviewed all candidates, endorsed in each race, and worked to elect our choices. A big learning point from our interviewing process is that, frequently, many people running for elected office have non-constructive agendas, or who have little knowledge of the system, and an unclear understanding of why they desire the elected office. We view our process to separate legitimate candidates from others, as being key to the continued success of IPS.

Since 1998, five of our endorsees have been elected, and we believe the current board is working constructively as an organization. Importantly, their relationship with the administration is an effective one. IPS is now operating with a 5-year strategic plan. Recently the entire community (business leaders, parents, teachers, neighborhood associations, NAACP, and faith-based organizations) came together to agree upon a school bond issue to replace ancient structures. Such cohesiveness could not have been achieved without the positive contributions of the current board members.

Our Selection Process

There is only one contested seat this year – At-Large. All At-Large candidates for were invited to interview and four accepted our invitation.  We endorse the incumbent, Michael Brown, whose children attend Crispus Attucks and Jonathan Jennings schools. In Michael’s contributions as a School Board Commissioner, he has continued to be involved with IPS schools on many levels – coaching, tutoring math and science, and visiting schools regularly. He has also provided an IPS presence at the state legislature when important issues affecting public schools were heard. Finally, his endorsement is a tribute to current school board, which is working well together – something our community must not take for granted.

We believe Michael Brown is be the most effective person, to continue the current improvements that are taking place in the IPS School District.