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EdPower says it can’t afford to operate Arlington High School

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After 53 years of operation and weeks before the start of the school year, Arlington High School could be shutting its doors forcing parents and children to seek alternative education options.

The Indiana State Board of Education left many feeling uncertain as Tindley Accelerated Schools, a charter school group administered by EdPower, announced they can no longer financially afford to operate Arlington High School for the 2014-2015 school year without $2.4 million in additional funding.

“EdPower must have adequate funding if we are to be able to operate Arlington appropriately and achieve our benchmarks,” said EdPower CEO Marcus Robinson in a letter addressed to the Indiana Department of Education.

The turnaround school operator, chosen by the State Board of Education in 2012 after the school was given “F” grades for six consecutive years, also requested that the high school transition back to the Indianapolis Public School system for the 2015-2016 school year.

“Unfortunately, Tindley has been unable to maximize the use of Arlington’s facilities, which has placed efforts to operate the building in a tough financial spot,” said IPS Superintendent Dr. Lewis Ferebee. “We hoped that a resolution between external entities might prevent us from approaching the brink of students’ return to school.”

The State Board of Education distributes funding based on enrollment. With the size of Arlington built to accommodate more than 2,000 students, this year’s enrollment has just graced 400.

“We understand that the amount of SIG (Student Improvement Grant) funds available for EdPower will be reduced significantly from the levels provided in the previous years,” said Robinson. “The operational overhead outstrips revenue generated by the students assigned to the school. Thus, it appears that EdPower will not be successful in obtaining SIG funds in an amount EdPower deems necessary to operate Arlington.”

A task force has been established by the Department of Education to find the best solution.

“Tindley can’t afford to keep Arlington running, and IPS is unable to provide the financial resources to close the financial gap associated with operating the building under the current model,” said Ferebee.

Paris Walton, 2009 graduate of Arlington reflects on her time as a Golden Knight. “Arlington High School has represented more than an academic intuition. The pep rallies, live marching band, and rival basketball games shaped a sense of community, pride, and understanding for many students.”

She said those memories may become a distant memory considering the school’s current state.

“The lack of funding prevents potential pupils from the surrounding neighborhood the opportunity to learn in their own environment. The possibility of Arlington closing may also affect the future community itself as well,” said Walton.

Ferebee stated that IPS will not sacrifice resources that could jeopardize current IPS students and that this situation exposes some of the cracks in the school system.

“Once we resolve what happens at Arlington, there’s still more discussion that needs to take place about this model. We have many more students attending takeover schools, and a plan for long-term implementation and transition must be determined.”

Friday July 18, 2014 10:08 AM

EdPower says they will continue to operate Arlington High School for the upcoming school year. School will resume August 11. Follow the Indianapolis Recorder on Twitter for more breaking news. 

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