Inaugural Meeting of the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation - April 14, 2026

The inaugural meeting of the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC) was held on April 14, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The board was sworn in, adopted rules of procedure, discussed the November 2026 operating referendum process, appointed an acting executive director, passed a funding resolution, and set future meeting dates. The meeting was led by Chair David (surname not provided) and included board members Commissioner Thompson, Ms. McNeil, Commissioner Thomas, Mr. Taylor, Ms. Castañeda, Mr. Wrangle, Commissioner Duke Starr, and John Hammond (participating virtually from Japan). Mayor Hogsett and IPS Superintendent Dr. Johnson were also present.

Consent Calendar

• No consent calendar items were identified; all action items were discussed and voted individually via roll call.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made at this meeting. The board noted that future meetings will include public comment periods, especially for matters related to taxes and budgets.

Discussion Items

• Oath of Office and Organizational Setup: The board was sworn in by the Mayor. Mike O'Connor provided background on House Enrolled Act 1515 (2025) and House Enrolled Act 1423 (2026), which created IPEC and its responsibilities for transportation, facilities, and accountability across Indianapolis Public Schools and charter schools. The 430-page ILEA recommendations report was presented.
• Rules of Procedure: John Mays presented draft rules covering parliamentary procedure, electronic participation, board officers, public comment, and record keeping. The board adopted the rules unanimously via roll call. As part of the rules, the board will appoint a vice chair and secretary at a later meeting.
• Referendum Timeline and Process: John Mays outlined the statutory steps for a potential operating referendum on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Key deadlines include: by end of April 2026, gather information from the Indiana Department of Education; in May 2026, send notices to charter schools; and by end of June 2026, consider a resolution. Public hearings will be held. Board members discussed the need for community engagement, including parents, to determine the referendum amount and duration.
• Appointment of Acting Executive Director: Mike O'Connor was appointed as acting executive director unanimously. He will serve until the Mayor nominates a permanent executive director for board approval. O'Connor outlined immediate administrative steps: acquiring domain names (IPEC.com and .org), setting up email addresses, and creating a website.
• Funding Resolution: The board passed a resolution to set a distribution percentage of property tax revenue (not to exceed 3%) and to authorize requests for funds from the county treasurer and auditor. The resolution passed unanimously. Future additional appropriation will be needed to budget the funds. Board members emphasized the need for financial expertise and transparent budgeting.
• Working Groups: Three working groups were proposed: Referendum (to gather input on amount and duration), Staffing (to build a team including financial analysts), and Accountability (to develop a performance framework per statute). The board discussed including external experts, community members, and parents in these groups. The chair will follow up with individual members to assign roles.
• Executive Director Hiring Process: The Mayor will appoint a permanent executive director, subject to board approval. The timeline targets mid- to third week of May 2026. Steps include creating a job description, setting a salary range, posting the position (using the website and other municipal channels), and conducting interviews. Board members asked about posting locations and ensuring a diverse candidate pool.
• Future Meeting Dates: The board approved the following dates for 2026: May 28, June 22, July 21, and August 12. Additional dates will be set later. Board members requested evening times to facilitate public participation. Meeting locations and times will be announced later.

Key Outcomes

• Rules of procedure were adopted unanimously.
• Mike O'Connor was appointed acting executive director unanimously.
• A resolution setting the fund distribution percentage and authorizing fund requests was passed unanimously.
• Future meeting dates were approved unanimously.
• The board committed to forming three working groups and engaging the public in the referendum process.
• The process for hiring a permanent executive director will begin immediately, with a target completion by mid-May 2026.