INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Public Schools' board members will make their final decision on whether to support the recommendation to close Broad Ripple Magnet High School early next week.
The board will hold a meeting Monday where the decision will be made.
In June, IPS announced the results of a study that recommended to close three local high schools, including Broad Ripple Magnet High School for the Arts and Humanities. Prior to the announcement, an IPS Task Force spent several months analyzing the dilemma of declining enrollment of IPS high schools.
IPS' current total enrollment is 5,352 students, while the seven area high schools have the capacity of 14,450 students. Broad Ripple Magnet High School currently has 665 students and can hold 2,400 students.
In a statement, the Broad Ripple Village Association pushed for the high school site to be used as a community resource:
“While the Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) understands the IPS recommendation to close BRHS, we believe that as the district and its board evaluate options for future use of the school property, it is essential that the facility continues to be used for public education purposes.”
BRVA also said that although the IPS announcement is disappointing for the village, members viewed the proposal to close the school as an opportunity for community involvement to shape the future of the Broad Ripple High School site. “We believe the community has the power to advocate for a reuse of the site that will benefit the Village and its families into the future.”
According to the village association’s website, members are working with IPS in the event that the final decision be made to sell the facility.
“We will represent the community as we work towards a successful resolution,” the page reads. “The Broad Ripple Village Association strongly believes that the community should be able to shape the facility’s reuse, if in fact the IPS board decides to close it.”
An open house for Broad Ripple residents was held in late August to gather initial community input.
The village association ran an online survey to gather public input on the best use for the facility. Respondents were asked to rank potential uses of the site from best to worst, including green space, event plaza, and a recreational facility.
The survey also asked respondents for ideas on commercial, residential and commercial uses for the site.
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