Council education committee hears ILEA review; presenter warns IPS could lose about $40 million without a referendum

The Indianapolis City Council Education Committee heard a progress report on the Indiana Local Education Alliance on Nov. 4, as the advisory panel prepares recommendations to the state on school governance, facilities, transportation and accountability.

Michael O'Connor, the presenter to the committee, outlined the ILEA's work to date, saying the alliance has held five public meetings, collected more than six hours of public comment and made extensive materials available electronically. He told the committee the alliance will submit recommendations to the legislative council and the state superintendent by Dec. 31, 2025.

"In '27, IPS loses about $40,000,000 if they don't go forward with another referendum on an annual basis in operating revenue," O'Connor said, summarizing the ILEA's school-finance review and the referendum timing that local officials face.

The presentation covered…