IPS enrollment unclear with state takeover of four schools

Indianapolis Public Schools welcomed students back to school on Monday, but the district has undergone significant changes since classes were let out. Four schools were taken over by the state, and the superintendent said he's paying close attention to enrollment numbers that influence funding.

"The main challenges are always making sure that you have effective instructional supervision," said Dr. Eugene White, IPS Superintendent.

With budget cuts, layoffs and the state takeover of four poor performing schools, White had a lot on his mind Monday when asked about enrollment.

"The state took over four of our secondary schools, and right now we don't know how many students are going to stay in IPS," he said.

Charter Schools USA, A Florida-based company hired by the state to improve test scores, took over three of those schools.

For Dr. Terry Stollar, a Charter Schools USA employee and the new principal at Emma Donnan Middle School, proper behavior and organization were top of mind on Monday.

"It is kind of sad that that didn't always happen for these kids, and that we're starting at a 7th and 8th grade level to actually teach them so they can become higher learners," Stollar said.

Richard Page, a top official with Charter Schools USA, said a good number of students they were expecting were not picked up by IPS. IPS is still responsible for busing.

"We're operational now, and we have to keep up each others' ends of the bargain," Page said.

IPS pledged to look into a possible problem with busing, but a spokesman warned that students will only have access to transportation if the school is in their district.