Take Action Now

• Contact your legislators and tell them to VOTE NO on HB 1423

• Testify if you can. Share your story.

Tell Five Friends, Make Two Calls (or More!)

When to call: Before Wednesday, February 4 at noon
Why: House Bill 1423
Who: Senate Education & Career Development Committee Members (see list below)
Phone: Senate: 800-382-9467
Message:

Hello, I’d like to leave a message for __________________.

My name is __________
My address is______________
My phone number is ___________

I am a __________ (parent, grandparent, teacher, nurse, etc.), and I am calling to oppose HB 1423. This bill strips power from Indianapolis Public Schools and transfers it to a new corporation that does not yet exist. What happens in Indianapolis sets a dangerous precedent for public schools across Indiana.

School buildings and buses are among a community’s most valuable public assets. HB 1423 would transfer those assets to a new entity, leaving the school district with major responsibilities but little authority or assets.

Public assets, facilities, and transportation must remain under public oversight. I do not want this siphoning of power from school boards in Indianapolis that could later be used to undermine local control in other school districts.

Appointed boards answer to the appointing authority, not the public. Elected boards are accountable to voters. Power should remain with the people.

I urge [Representative/Senator] to protect local democracy and vote NO on HB 1423. Please do not rush permanent changes that affect public schools and communities across Indiana.

Thank you.

Testify

Wednesday, 1:30pm – Testimony is being heard on HB 1423 in the Senate Chamber by the Senate Education & Career Development Committee. See contact information at the bottom.

Domino Effect

What happens to Indianapolis Public Schools is a dire warning for all Indiana public schools.

Legislation moving this session doesn’t stop with one district or one city. Changes to accountability, governance, and staffing in Indianapolis set precedents that can be applied statewide. ICPE believes every school district deserves an elected school board that represents its community’s voice.

HB 1176, HB 1266, HB 1423, SB 161, SB 204, and SB 239 work together to reshape who governs schools, how interventions occur, and how schools are operated. While each bill moves separately, their combined impact reaches rural, suburban, and urban districts alike.

HB 1423 is the keystone. Once governance changes are normalized in one district, they become a model for future state action elsewhere.

Public education is “public” only when communities can elect local leaders to govern schools and oversee public assets. Every district—including Gary and Muncie which had their boards taken over by the state —deserves that voice and accountability.
Five Problems with HB 1423

Problem 1: More bureaucracy

HB 1423 isn’t just about Indianapolis. It’s a test run for more bureaucracy across Indiana.
This bill creates an entirely new large and expensive layer of completely appointed bureaucracy with control over school buildings and transportation– while offering no clear benefit to students.

Problem 2: No voter accountability

The new governing body would have no direct accountability to voters.

• A 9-member board, all appointed by the Mayor of Indianapolis
  • 3 IPS representatives
  • 3 charter school leaders
  • 3 “experts” (undefined)
• Six-year terms that outlast any mayoral term
• Families and taxpayers have no way to vote board members out if decisions are unpopular
• The Mayor can remove any or all of the 9 members, at any time, for any reason.

Problem 3: New costs in a non-budget year

HB 1423 carries a $3 million startup cost in a non-budget year. Each year 3% of the school property taxes in the IPS district (for IPS and charter schools) will be diverted to fund salaries and operating costs of this new bureaucratic corporation.

Problem 4: Property ownership chaos

HB 1423 strips IPS of all of its buildings, buses, taxing authority, and budget oversight, while leaving major questions unanswered, including how those buildings will be transferred when they already are acting as security for the bonds that have been used to finance renovations or other major needs.

Problem 5: Exempting IPS from dollar law is a form of coercion

A unique Indiana state law requires public school districts to sell or lease underutilized school buildings to charter schools for just $1, regardless of their value. HB1423 would exempt IPS from that law, but only if IPS surrenders control of its property, taxing authority, and budget oversight—an unfair and inappropriate trade.

Contact Information

Sen. Jeff Raatz, Chair (R) District 27 – 317-233-0930 *
Sen. Greg Goode, Ranking Member (R) District 38 – 317-233-0930 *
Sen. Brian Buchanan (R) District 7 – 317-234-9441 *
Sen. Gary Byrne (R) District 47 – 317-232-9497
Sen. Spencer Deery (R ) District 23 – 317-232-9517 *
Sen. Stacey Donato (R ) District 18 – 317-234-9054
Sen. Tyler Johnson (R ) District 14 – 317-232-9466 *
Sen. Linda Rogers (R ) District 11 – 317-234-9443
Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R) District 48 – 317-232-9541 *
Sen. J.D. Ford, Ranking Minority Member (D) District 29 – 317-232-9532
Sen. Andrea Hunley (D) District 46 – 317-232-9491
Sen. Fady Qaddoura (D) District 30 – 317-232-9404
Sen. Shelli Yoder (D ) District 40 – 317-232-9427

To email all at once, copy and paste the addresses into the “To” field of your email.
s27@iga.in.gov
s38@iga.in.gov
s7@iga.in.gov
s47@iga.in.gov
s23@iga.in.gov
s18@iga.in.gov
s14@iga.in.gov
s11@iga.in.gov
s48@iga.in.gov
s29@iga.in.gov
s46@iga.in.gov
s30@iga.in.gov
s40@iga.in.gov

* Be sure to call these legislators.

As always, please remember the following guidelines when reaching out to legislators:

• Remember to be polite and kind in your language and tone.
• Remind them public education is not a partisan issue.
• Encourage legislators to support legislation that strengthens public schools.
• Personal stories and anecdotes are particularly effective, whether it’s your own personal story or a close friend’s.
• Be disciplined in your messaging: the best way to build support for your position is to keep communication positive, bipartisan, inclusive, and single-issue.
• Avoid getting sidetracked with other issues you care about.
• If you are a constituent, mention that.