New house bills could reorganize local school corporations

WANATAH, Ind. -- Indiana lawmakers recently introduced two bills, House Bill 1136 and House Bill 1501, that could make some big changes to local school corporations if passed.

House Bill 1136 says if more than 50 percent of students within a school corporation's boundaries attend schools not operated by the district, then that corporation must be dissolved, transitioned into charter schools, and have a governing board appointed for them.

With 58 percent of Tri-Township Consolidated School Corporation’s enrollment attending schools outside the district, they are covered under the bill.

They are joined by 4 other Indiana schools: Indianapolis Public Schools, Gary Community Schools, Union School Corporation, and Cannelton City Schools.

House Bill 1501 says it will establish a three-year centralized facilities and transportation pilot program that all five districts affected by bill 1136 would have to participate in.

It would create two new boards that would also be appointed for them, taking control away from the current elected board.

“Currently we have elected board members and so with becoming a charter school we would then have to have appointed board members…The mayor and others would be making appointments, and so you know again, I can’t say that we would have any of our local residents be part of that board, and I think, you know, right now that is our biggest concern, is making sure that our local residents continue to be a part of the decision making,” said Superintendent of Tri-Township, Dr. Pamela Moore.

Dr. Moore said although their corporation is small, they have been successful, “Our graduation rate this past year was 100 percent. We’re meeting the state reading goal, over 95 percent of our 3rd graders are passing the IREAD-3 test. So, we are a high performing school, and I think looking at one metric to determine whether or not you’re successful or a failing school is not the right thing to be doing,”.

Dr. Moore said she and other locals have been in communication with several legislators about the performance of Tri-Township and will continue to do so.

“How the bill was written and speaking about how we could be a failing school, I just want to make sure that the public understands we are not a failing school district, and the data doesn’t support that,” said Dr. Moore.

If the bills are eventually signed into law by Governor Mike Braun, then they will take effect July 2025 and require the corporations to be dissolved and turned into charter schools by 2028.