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IPS chief White goes public with plan to retire in April

January 15, 2013

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Education & Workforce Development, IPS, K-12, Public schools

The embattled superintendent of the Indianapolis Public Schools says he's retiring from the state's largest school system on April 5.

Eugene White, 65, announced the move to the IPS board Tuesday night.

IBJ reported earlier Tuesday that White was planning to leave the job.

The board will pay White about $800,000 for the remainder of his contract, which runs through 2015, Fox59 reported.

The state took over control of three IPS high schools and one middle school this year and turned them over to private operators after years of poor student performance.

White's standing with the IPS board took a hit with the recent retirement of two longtime backers and the November election defeat of a third. The new board members took office last week.

White was a principal at Fort Wayne Wayne and Indianapolis North Central high schools before becoming superintendent of the Washington Township schools in 1994. He moved to IPS in 2005.

“Eugene White’s tenure as IPS Superintendent was a time of many challenges and successes," Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said in prepared statement. "I appreciate his service to our community and look forward to a continued strong relationship with IPS as we work to advance the educational needs of our children in Indianapolis.”

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NedJanuary 17, 2013 7:36 AM
The issues with IPS are far more reaching than the efforts of one person. Face it.. White is one man in the moment and I believe attempted to do the best he could, however, he did not have enough "men" in the mix to help pull on the rope. IPS issues are many... 40 years if flight to the burbs, federal mandates, family breakdown and politics! No one person is gonna save the system, but if more men would say I'll be a part of the solution at home and in the community it would be a great start! White should not hang his head. He inherited a runaway train and my hope is that the new board doesn't see that one man or woman can fix it! It's gonna take alot of men and women in this community at the table. For our kids and cities future, we cannot afford any less than an all out effort for IPS! If not, draw the shade and divvy it up to the townships.

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Time for change and hope

ReformerJanuary 16, 2013 2:14 PM
The IPS system is overburdened with students who have multiple challenges... speak english as their secondary language, children who have parents unwilling or unable to prepare their chidren for elementary school(teach the most basic reading and writing skills). We need a Leader who has significant and successful experiences turning around low performing equivilant sized school district with similar socio and economic challenges. IPS has the oppotunity to hire a Leader who can create a culture of commitment and engagement for administrators, teachers, parents and students! The real question is whether the school board has the vision, ability and commitment to attract a high performing leader willing to take on this huge challenge. The board needs to hire a national executive search firm who specializes recruiting the best leaders in education.

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Forced

KCJanuary 16, 2013 12:36 PM
He is obviously being forced out. He will retire until some school district offers him another contract. I just hope his IPS contract ends if and when he gets another job. This is a very tough job. I hope they can find the right person to move the district forward.

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Why is he being Paidout??

TaxPayerJanuary 16, 2013 9:03 AM
If he is choosing to retire, why is he being paid though his contract to the tune of $800000.00. They have laid teachers off, eliminated programs and say there is just not enough money to to properly run the system but there is enough money to pay for two superintendents though 2015. He needs to retire and get some new blood who can turn IPS into a decent school system. More ridiculousness by management or the lack of.............

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