Forget about luxuries; IPS capital referendum is about basics such as working HVAC systems

Sherry Holmes, Ana Delgado and Swantella Nelson
·2 min read

As moms, we want the best for our children — especially when it comes to their education. Unfortunately, we know from a review of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) facilities that students are not getting access to the best when it comes to school buildings and amenities. This is why we see the need for the IPS capital referendum.

Indianapolis Public Schools Superintendent Aleesia Johnson speaks to journalists and community leaders on Thursday, April 6, 2023, before a tour of Arlington Middle School in the Devington neighborhood of Indianapolis. The tour looked at facility renovations that would be funded by capital referendum dollars, if passed during the May 2 election. The renovation is part of IPS' Rebuilding Stronger plan, which involves broad restructuring across the district.

Some of us writing this have children attending schools that will benefit from building updates and some of us don’t. However, we all agree that IPS kids deserve secure buildings, safe classrooms and comfortable learning environments. They deserve the same kind of opportunities children attending districts in higher-income areas receive.

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Too many IPS buildings are substandard and do not meet the basic needs of children in the 21st century. According to IPS, more than 30% of IPS schools are rated in “poor” condition. That’s unacceptable, and we hope the community will step up and support the referendum that will help more than 20 buildings get the updates they need.

Comparing IPS to school districts in more affluent communities starkly showcases the opportunity gap that disadvantages students of color and children from low-income ZIP codes. You don’t have to travel very far to see school corporations that have lavish amenities such as amphitheaters, sports stadiums and multiple swimming pools. To be clear, this referendum is not about luxuries. It’s about ensuring IPS students have access to the basics such as working HVAC systems, good plumbing, secure entrances, media centers and libraries, and facility improvements to support extracurriculars.

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Looking at how IPS schools, including innovation schools, would benefit from an average of $3 per household, we came together as concerned IPS parents and decided we would do everything we could to support the passage of the capital referendum. This included working with Stand for Children Indiana to provide a meaningful PAC donation to IPS. Our hope is that this donation helps IPS spread the word about the importance of the building updates and all the capital referendum can provide.

As IPS moms who know our schools, we care about this district. We hope you will see the importance of the capital referendum for IPS students and vote in support of the ballot question in May. All IPS children should have safe buildings, secure learning environments and access to facilities that promote engagement in meaningful extracurricular activities. We believe the IPS capital referendum is a small price to pay for our community in order to secure a better future for our children.

Sherry Holmes, George Washington Carver School 87 parent

Ana Delgado, The PATH School at Stephen Foster 67 parent

Swantella Nelson, Edison School of the Arts at School 47 parent

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: We believe IPS students deserve basics such as working HVAC systems.