The following priorities, set out in Dr. Cosby’s campaign, inspired the people in Indianapolis Public Schools District 2 to vote her onto the Board.
Feasibility Study
How many schools and seats do we actually need in the IPS district?
- Roughly 1/3 of Indy charters opened since 2001 have closed (WFYI, 2023).
- The Indiana Charter School Board Executive Director has stated that they don’t authorize new schools to open in Indianapolis – citing that it’s crowded, oversaturated, and there are too many schools (WFYI, 2023).
Accountability
How should IPS determine which charter schools to partner with, and which partnerships to continue?
- Indiana’s suspension of A-F grades for schools make it hard to accurately determine academic success (WFYI, 2023).
- Test scores are only one measure of accountability, but are often overemphasized. Other measures such as enrollment, teacher turnover, parent satisfaction, and school climate also deserve consideration.
Rebuilding Stronger
We need to see this important initiative through to ensure greater equity in the district.
- Rebuilding Stronger is IPS’s plan to achieve equity across all geographical regions of the district by offering high-demand programs in all 4 quadrants.
- IPS has wonderful programs that are in demand, with some having a waitlist. Making these programs available to all is an imperative.
Taxpayer Dollars
How should IPS determine which charter schools to partner with, and which partnerships to continue?
- Tax dollars received through referendums have resulted in pay increases for teachers as well as band, orchestra and language classes for students (Chalkbeat, 2022).
- The Capital referendum will enable renovations for 20 buildings over 8 years; necessitating ongoing oversight (IPS, 2022).
Photo: Board member Gayle Cosby speaks during an IPS school board meeting in May. (Scott Elliott). Originally published on Chalkbeat Indiana.