Charter school trying to build on test-score progress
Indy Met’s structured approach helped more students pass algebra, English exams. Now many say the school should work on solidifying its gains.
Francesca Jarosz
Articles
Indy Met’s messy year offers education-reform lessons
Indianapolis Metropolitan High School overhauled its academic program halfway through the school year, and students responded with significantly better performance on state tests. The lesson learned: Flexibility can produce academically superior outcomes.
Mayoral foe: Utilities sale money should fund ‘human capital’
Democratic mayoral candidate Melina Kennedy unveiled a proposal Friday to set aside $150 million in proceeds from the sale of the city’s water and sewer utilities to fund early education, crime prevention and job training.
Indianapolis eyes TIF surplus to shore up city coffers
The city is considering ways to channel money captured for economic development in some of its 22 tax-increment-financing districts to units such as libraries and city-county government.
City ready to take down 1,100 abandoned homes
With the sale of its water and sewer utilities cleared by regulators, the city of Indianapolis is preparing to deploy $15 million to $25 million in funds from the deal into tearing down abandoned houses.
School voucher program draws early interest
About 385 families have requested state tuition assistance at private schools since July 11, when the Indiana Department of Education started accepting applications for its new voucher program.
Regulators approve Indianapolis water utility transfer
State regulators on Wednesday approved a proposal to transfer control of Indianapolis’ water and sewer utilities to a local not-for-profit trust. The $1.9 billion sale will put management of the utilities into the hands of Citizens Energy Group.
Cities weigh new law allowing bigger tax breaks
Communities across the state are trying to decide how they will use a new law that provides them more flexibility to employ economic development incentives but could increase pressure to give companies more tax breaks.
Event merges forces of old, new venture-capital groups
The third annual Innovation Showcase is getting a boost from a partnership between the Venture Club of Indiana and tech social group Verge.
Local homeowners trying to cash in on Super Bowl
The approach of the 2012 Super Bowl has prompted some Indianapolis-area property owners to start looking for a chance to lease their homes and condos for the big game.
Simon wagers on Internet gambling’s future
Billionaire Herb Simon is betting online gambling will become legal—and that a new company he’s backing will reap a payoff as a result.
Shrinking revenue puts Ballard in hot seat
A drop in local income-tax revenue could put Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard between a familiar political rock and hard place as he faces re-election. Next year’s budgets must be approved in October, when Ballard’s race with Democratic challenger Melina Kennedy will be in the home stretch.
Forum Credit Union trying to rebound from recent losses
Fishers-based Forum Credit Union was on the upswing from a sizable loss in 2008 when a slew of challenges hit late last year. Now Forum is rebuilding its earnings—and looking for a new leader to steer the company.
Startup takes on abandoned homes in Indianapolis
Indianapolis is in the early stages of expanding the practice of land banks, which allow government agencies and not-for-profits to take over tax-foreclosed properties and put them back into productive use,. Land banks have shown positive results in states such as Michigan and Ohio.
Bush Stadium fixup fans tax tensions
The city plans to tap a taxing district downtown to help pay for the Bush Stadium renovation, rekindling concern among some elected officials and taxing experts that the Mayor’s Office is using the massive district to fund whatever special city needs crop up.
Showdown looming over Marion County income tax
More agencies will be vying for a piece of the city’s income-tax revenue as next year’s budget process begins. But with that money flat-lined next year, city leaders say there may not be enough to share.
City’s ambitious tech-corridor plan no sure thing
Indianapolis leaders are hoping a new plan launched by Mayor Greg Ballard’s administration to transform the area northwest of downtown into a high-tech job and life-sciences research magnet will turn the long-discussed idea into a reality.
City leaders look to 16th Street as future tech hub
Officials on Thursday shared details of a long-term plan to redevelop an industrial stretch northwest of downtown with the goal of attracting hundreds of residents and dozens of high-tech companies to the area.
City to roll out plan for 16th Street tech corridor
The city of Indianapolis plans to announce a major initiative to turn a stretch of 16th Street northwest of downtown into a hub for biotechnology and other high-tech companies.
Critics: City’s effort to help ex-offenders ineffective
Three years after Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard launched a city office designed to help ex-offenders avoid a repeat prison visit, some of those original supporters say the city’s Office of Re-Entry Initiatives not only has fallen short of that goal but has accomplished little else.