A. Levander discussed Hope Academy's consideration of entering into an agreement with IPS to become an innovation partner; she reviewed the benefit of having their pipeline of students. She expressed that while it has been discussed at the board meetings,  the Board has not formalized the decision to move forward with a charter that would designate us as a stand alone charter that has a partnership with IPS, and the Interdisciplinary Committee feels that it is time for the Board to vote on the decision as to whether or not Hope Academy will partner with IPS.

We want to be a charter school with a contract within the Indianapolis school corporation; the contract with IPS is for 5 years. We would not designate our charter as a conversion, not a restart, but as an innovation school. Brian Dickey and Patrick McAlister of the Indianapolis Office of Education Innovation (OEI) have stated that they would support our pursuit as an innovation school so Hope Academy has initiated meetings with IPS board members that are responsible for the innovation schools.

If Hope were to contract with IPS there would be no restrictions on where the students would come from and we would be funded based on student count, Hope would receive IPS ADM dollars, which is a rate higher than the funding we currently receive.

R. Gardner briefly went through the Alternative Pathway to Suspensions and Expulsions for IPS Students Proposal. With this proposal the IP school would get to count the students that they are sending to us rather than expelling them and Hope would get the ADM funding.

It was noted that both Herron and Purdue Polytechnic are also partners of IPS.

Benefits of partnering with IPS were discussed, such as the possibility of contracting with them for food services, but it was noted that we would not get the benefit of using their IT, HR, marketing and development personnel. Our school management system is the same as theirs so we'll be able to negotiate with them to get that management system through them.

A. Levander asked for a motion from the board to pursue a partnership with IPS. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

    RESOLVED, that the Board approved that Hope Academy pursue a partnership with the Indianapolis Public School (IPS) system.

B. Elliott reported that the Interdisciplinay Committee had looked at two proposals that included writing the charter and project management. After careful consideration of both proposals the Interdisciplinary Committee decided to split up the duties between the two consulting firms. Amanda Lopez, Lead Consultant, for Transform Consulting Group (TCG), will help with the leadership role. Addie Angelov, consultant for the Center for Education Solutions, Inc. (CIES), will write the charter. Amanda and her team jumped in right away and we have shared a lot of information with them. We will meet on a weekly basis and Amanda will be coming to the Interdisciplinary Committee meetings, the next one is scheduled for April 8th.

B. Elliott remarked that The Mind Trust may be able to cover the costs of the consultants through a grant that they are applying for.

B. Elliott shared that she and Marissa Manlove met with Jenny Boyts, the Director of School Services for IFF. She noted that IFF helps not-for-profits with capital financing and they are funded through the Walton Family Foundation.

They met with IFF to see if they could assist with the site search, space planning and design, and to help with the financing and possible bridge loans. They asked if we would be developing a facilities committee so that is something that we need to determine, who would be on that committee.

IFF is currently working on a grant from the Walton Family Foundation and have said that they will roll in Hope Academy in to their grant request and if they receive the grant they would provide their work for free.

R. Gardner noted that a list of potential partners was sent to the entire Board after the last board meeting and asked board members to please review the list and let us know if you have a contact at any of the locations on the list.

R. Gardner then gave an update on the meeting that was held with the University of Indianapolis. She shared that she, Barb Elliott, Colleen Kenney and her husband, Phil Kenney, met with the U of I President, Robert Manuel.  She felt they had great discussions, which included our history and the split of Hope and Fairbanks. They talked a lot about space and he shared that the U of I likes the idea of their students working with Hope students. They are very well versed in partnerships. The next steps are for us to send a financial review to them (we need to have the Finance Committee develop a five year budget) and schedule a tour for his people to come out; he wants to socialize us with their trustees.
 

The Fairbanks letter of financial support through June 30, 2020 was signed by Tom Flowers and mailed to Patrick McAlister of OEI on March 8, 2019.