IPS to Consider Layoffs After Referendum Delay

Indianapolis Public Schools is one of 14 grant recipients

Layoffs could be coming to Indianapolis Public Schools thanks to a delay in a proposed school funding plan. Our partners at WIBC in Indianapolis report the school district has decided to move a referendum from the May ballot to November.

The proposed plan would raise taxes in the city and bring in nearly $725 million over eight years. Ahead of the November vote, IPS says it will work with the Indy Chamber to conduct a review of IPS business functions, hold community forums and work with families and neighborhood groups to discuss the plan.

Superintendent Lewis Ferebee says the delay means they will have to consider layoffs.

"I would anticipate there would be some type of reduction in personnel going into the 2017-2018 school year," said Ferebee. "You can’t significantly reduce expenditures in our district without having some impact on personnel."

Ferebee did not specify when the layoffs may occur or who will affected. The district says it would be forced to freeze teacher and employee compensation, reduce educational programs, and continue to defer building maintenance, among other issues.