Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 December 2000 — Page 2

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THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1,2000

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Parents, community leaders take school choice advocacy to statehouse BAEO joins local movement for increased

options

By BARATO BRITT

Recorder Correspondent In September, over 20 concerned parents from Indianapolis engaged the legislators of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus to demand they take a more aggressive role on school choice legislation in a state devoid of school choice laws. The predominantly AfricanAmerican parent group was told by those legislators to take this Dr. Howard Fuller speaks about educating inner-city children. message to the State House, and lobby also to other legislators that can aid in achieving their goal. address the education dilemma determined by how much educaLast week, those parents did just properly, the system itself must tion you have,” Caire said. “At the that; and this time, they brought accept its failures and examine al- level of academic failure our chilfriends from all comers of the state temate routes if quality education dren are facing in the current eduto fortify their position. for all children is the goal. That cational system, it is contingent on Over 80 parents, clergy, com- acceptance, he added, comes also parents and the community to demunity leaders and children from proposed movement in the mand better for themselves and charged the State House during legislature to enact choice legisla- their children. We support this efOrganization Day to make their tion. fort and look forward to working demands for increased options “We have to look at every avail- with these parents in the future.” know to the legislature. The “Our able alternative to this problem,” According to the local parent Voice... Our Choice” rally brought said Rascoe, who was joined by group, the rally is merely the startspeakers representing parents from students and parents of the acad- ing point of its effort of increased Indianapolis, Gary, South Bend and emy. “We can no longer wait for grass roots development for an isEvansville together with the com- the system to fix itself, while our sue that remains contention in the mon goal of lobbying for school children continue to fail in dispro- community at large. Additionally, choice, which allows parents to portionate numbers. The time has although various school choice prochoose which schools are best for come to try something else.” posals have been introduced durtheir children through various “This is not about politics and ing previous legislative sessions, mechanisms including charter policy, it is about these children,” early reports indicate that bipartischools, tuition tax credits and added South Bend’s Dr. Adebula san cooperation for those proposvouchers. Odekoya, pastor of Grace AME als is still limited. However, charAccording to Estel Carroll, Zion Church. “We’re going to fight ter school legislation remains a hot presidentofParentsforEducational forchoice, but in the meantime, we issue in the State House as both Choice, the rally was the direct need to continue to help our chil- parties have lent their support but result of their “less than produc- dren fight to develop their minds, have offered vastly different bills, five” exchange during the IBLC Our children are our most precious Recently, Indianapolis Mayor Bart visit earlier this year. resource Peterson joined the fray as a sup“We were told by our own leg- While Indiana currently does not porter of charter schools, which islators that we needed to come have school choice specific legis- are public schools that are freed and bring our voices down here to lation, the local movement has from much of the bureaucracy and ^URptttLschQfll choice, so that ’ s caughtthe attention of a new>group regwlatipns tjjat are apparent in tra,what,.we .decided to do,” said of African Americans assembled ditiqnail public schools. Carroll, whoalso spoke during last to promote parental choice in edu- During the previous legislative Wtoek’aevent. “We understand this cation. The Black Alliance for Edp- session. Sen. Luke Kenley fkbattle will be tough, and we want cation Options, BAEO, aided the Noblesville) introduced a voucher our legislators to support this, so in local parents in their lobbying ef- bill in the Senate, but pulled the bill order for them to do that, we also fort, and also engaged the commu- due to contention toward the issue wanted them to see that they have nity in various other functions sur- among other factors. Opposition to support from the community to do rounding the rally. the bill cited, among other comiL” BAEO Executive Director plaints, the bill was exclusive to Ironically, of the IBLC, only Kaleem Caire and Board President Indianapolis Public Schools. It is State Representative William Dr. Howard Fuller addressed com- not yet known if Kenley will again Crawford, (D-Indianapolis) en- munity members through functions introduce such a bill, gaged the rally of parents to offer sponsored by the Urban Christian BAEO representatives anticiinsights on their continued efforts. Schools Coalition and the India- pate the introduction of an Indiana Among thosejoining Carroll and napolis Black Chamber of Com- chapter to be in operation in the the Indianapolis effort included merce. Said Caire, the local move- first quarter of 2001. At present, Rev. Larry Rascoe, pastor of ment is something the national or- the group is actively seeking comNazarene Missionary Baptist ganization will aggressively sup- munity support to maintain its loChurch in Evansville. Rascoe, who port, beginning with the creation cal operation, is also the president of the Joshua of a local chapter of the Black But, they said, efforts such as Academy, a private school with a Alliance. last week’s rally are a significant majority African-American student “Access to leadership and pros- enough indicator that a local prespopulation, said that in order to perity in America today is now ence is warranted. CHURCH

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Catholic school for African-American children. From the late nineteenth century, through segregation, until its closure in 1994, the church remained a significant part of the city’s African-American community. “St. Bridget’s is a fine example of very pure church architecture,” says Jim Browning, founding partner of design firm Browning Day Mullins Dierdorf and author of design guidelines for construction along the restored Central Canal. ”It’s not flamboyant, just good, solid urban architecture.” The design guidelines set the tone for architecture near the canal, where Browning Day has been a longtime occupant. States Browning, “Having the contrast between old and new adds personality to the city.” ; The Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, 340 W. Michigan St., will meet with the Canal Stake Holders on Monday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. to petition that the city not

demolish the church.

On Wednesday, December 6, at 5:30 p.m. on the 2Qth floor of the City County Building, the organization will lead a consortium of neighborhood groups and other interested partiespetitioning the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission (IHPC) to declare St. Bridget Catholic Church as having historic and architectural significance. That declaration, along with the preparation of a historic preservation plan, would give the IHPC the authority to approve or deny proposed alterations to the property, including demolition. However, Williamsonhbpes that idl parties involved can come together later this week at a meeting called by the city planning department, to resolve the matter prior to the December 6 hearing. “If we continue to lose historically significant structures in Indianapolis, what architectural and spiritual heritage will we be able to share with our grandchildren?" asks Diisa Watson, President of Midtown Economic Development^ Industrial Corporation, a neighborhood coalition covering the area where St. Bridget’s is located, “Is this tnfly

progress?"

IPS

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just went on about their business.” Superintendent Duncan “Pat” Pritchett said the one-day acknowledgment likely occurred in the majority of IPS schools. He added he has

heard “virtually nothing” since.

“Officers have been responsible and doing their job,” he said. “I think we made the right decision as it will help make our schools safer.” While Pritchett affirmed a teacher’s confiscation of a .25 caliber handgun from a second grade student at School 11 in November, officials assert they are more concerned with outside violence coming into the school. IPS officers say the guns are appropriate in case some type of violence would become an issue in a school building. A mother of one, Taylor said she understood parents initial concern that officers were not trained to carry the weapons, but added, “We did go through some

pretty extensive training.”

Officers were required to fulfill certain prerequisites such as psychological testing and state certification as a law enforcement officer. They also had to complete training in the use of firearms and qualifications with the weapon at the level of proficiency required by Indianapo-

lis Police Department officers.

‘Ten years from now people will see that it was a good idea (to be ready) for situations that might call for a gun,” said Taylor. “It wasn’t a big deal with the kids. Just because I cany this gun on my hip, it doesn’t make my job any

different.”

“O.T.” said she did remember one student

commenting on her gun.

“He told me he felt safer,” she said. “But I didn’t take it to heart because I’m always going

to get these kids safe.”