IPS authorizes sale of college amid authorized battle with state legal professional basic

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Indianapolis Public Colleges is shifting forward with the sale of Francis Bellamy College 102 whereas the authorized battle over whether or not the district should supply it to constitution faculties for $1 continues in court docket.

The college board voted 6-0 Thursday to authorize the sale of the college on the far eastside to VOICES, a neighborhood nonprofit that works with youth, for $550,000. One commissioner was absent.

The vote comes three days after a Marion County choose granted the district an exemption from a state regulation that requires districts to supply closed faculty buildings to constitution faculties for $1. For a while, that regulation has precipitated stress between IPS and a few within the constitution sector, as IPS has closed faculties whereas constitution faculty enrollment has grown.

Earlier than the vote, a crowd of oldsters, college students, and others urged the college board to work collaboratively with constitution faculties below the “Higher Collectively” marketing campaign. The marketing campaign contains teams supportive of training reform, akin to EmpowerEd Households.

Indiana Lawyer Common Todd Rokita, in the meantime, has tried to cease the sale by an emergency movement to remain the ruling as he appeals the choice. As of Thursday, the trial court docket had not granted that keep, in keeping with on-line court docket information.

The sale of Bellamy just isn’t closing, nevertheless, and nonetheless has to undergo a proper course of with a time limit of Nov. 30.

IPS objected to Rokita’s try to cease the sale in a court docket submitting on Thursday, arguing that doing so would hurt IPS and taxpayers.

The district indicated that there’s no actual draw back to promoting the college whereas the authorized battle performs out, so far as IPS is anxious. If an appeals court docket in the end finds the district in violation of the $1 regulation, state regulation would require the proceeds of the sale to go to close by constitution faculties, the district famous in its submitting.

The state has not supplied any proof {that a} constitution faculty really desires to accumulate both College 102 or Raymond Brandes College 65 — one other closed faculty the district desires to promote — IPS additionally mentioned in its submitting.

Nevertheless, final yr a number of constitution faculties expressed curiosity in taking up faculties that IPS deliberate to shut.

Amelia Pak-Harvey covers Indianapolis and Lawrence Township faculties for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org.