Parents for Public Education Home Page

Where have we been?
PPE is a volunteer organization; an assortment of parents who step up to the plate when our kids' schools and programs are threatened. After working tirelessly on school board elections to several years ago to elect a school board that could work well with the administration together to achieve common goals - we relaxed. It's a fact that whenever we believe things are under control,

we resume our normal activities - summer days at the softball field, working overtime in our day-jobs, watching our kids grow older. But, just when we think we can leave things in our elected officials' hands, something happens.........read on.....once again we need to unite!

4 charter schools are poised to open within the IPS boundaries in August, 2002; another will be close to the boundary. Ball State will place an additional school in Irvington as well. When the charter school bill passed last year, there was no funding component attached. At the time, it was difficult to assess the impact upon our public school system. Now that the charter applicants have been chosen, and the estimated number of students are known, we know that IPS may experience a $6M-$9M deficit next year (approximate $80,000 per school). We may lose over 200 teachers, and/or experience cuts to our successful programs. Teachers may be laid-off in May, to prepare for the fact that our school district must fund the new schools out of monies that were intended to educate our children, who remain in the current system. Tell your Senator that IPS children should not be penalized for the lack of fiscal oversight that should have occurred when the charter bill originally passed. Call 232-9400 (Senate) and ask to be connected with your Senator, 232-9600 to be connected with your House Representative.

For more information, you may review these positions, which have been presented to the Mayor, City Council, State Legislature and others. Click here for the recent history of this issue.

Parent's PAC endorses MICHAEL BROWN for the May 7th IPS At-Large Race

NEW! - Attorney General Steve Carter Issued this Official Opinion on Mar. 7th, stating, "It is my legal opinion that the General Assembly has created dual obligations that the Department must fulfill..."

ACTION NEEDED! Although HB 1315 failed to pass, there will still be a major operating fund deficit to IPS next year if someone in the Legislature does not work on a solution to solve BOTH the problem with the impact to existing public schools, and the problem with Charter Schools having no initial funding. These two problems must be addressed together. Please contact your own State Senator and House Rep, and copy: Senator Teresa Lubbers and Senate President Pro Tem, Robert Garton, regarding the potential $6-$9 million deficit in IPS next year, and how it will hurt your children if it is not addressed. Also contact House Rep. Porter who sponsored the original Charter Bill and may be able to help solve the problem ultimately. Ask the Indianapolis Mayor to assist with a solution to BOTH issues.

To contact state legislators go here: http://www.in.gov/cgi-bin/legislative/contact/contact.pl

Parents for Public Education Indianapolis, IN

-Questions? Comments? Contributions?- mlink@iquest.net or majayne@aol.com (317) 283-8783

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