Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 April 2002 — Page 7

FRIDAY, APRIL 5,2002

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

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IPS board member defying status quo

Brents

outspoken for reform

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By BARATO BRITT Recorder Correspondent For Delores Brents, it is very lonely at the top. A school board commissioner for Indianapolis Public Schools, Brents is running unopposed in this year’s school board elections. But admittedly, she seems to frequently be the only member who feels the system is unresponsive to initiatives that stimulate increased options for low-income parents. “Perhaps I want change too quickly,” said Brunts. “I am very aware of the great progress we have made in the last four years. Business leaders and community supporters are coming to the table after a very long absence. We are having conversations about improvement and change. I see all that. However, I want to see more. “I want true accountability throughout the district and systems in place to measure and track ourselves. I’m not seeing enough of that. It’s extremely frustrating.” One of the most outspoken reform-minded members of the board since her defeat of long time school board member Hazel Stewart in 1998, Brents regularly finds herself in the minority on several key district proposals. Systemic changes, she says, are stalled often because of the inability for each member to come to a consensus. “Not all board members are completely against reform,” Brents said. “Those few, are indeed a minority of the board.” Most recently, Brents was the lone vote against a resolution in which the board asked Gov. Frank O’Bannon to place a freeze on charter schools, independent public schools that operate free from the traditional education bureaucracy. Five charter schools are expected to open this fall in Indianapolis, four of which were sponsored by Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson and one by Ball State University. Those in favor of the freeze cited the inevitable loss of funds due to charter school enrollment, but according to Brents, such an argument devalues the importance of parents choosing options that better serve their children’s academic needs. “I’m not convinced that the opening of new charters will not be a problem to the existing financial status of IPS,” Brents admits. “The financial implications speak for themselves. What I could not vote for was to say ‘no’ to allowing charters to open their doors. “I fail to see the benefit of saying that we won’t go forward with something we know will be good for those families who have elected charters as their educational choice until you fix what has been broken forever,” she added. “It would have been a vote to stall progress.” Brents believes in the potential of charter schools so intently that she also serves on the board of 21st Century Charter School, one of the four schools sponsored by Peterson. The new school, a technology-rich elementary for students in kindergarten though sixth grade, was the state’s first to select its students through a lottery. The school has also moved forward in spite of the lack of resolution on charter school funding, and will open Aug. 29. Brents’ decision to serve on the volunteer board while serving on the IPS board has also drawn the ire of several of her counterparts, citing a potential conflict of interest. “There are those who believe that any form of support for anything other than IPS is equal to high treason,” she said. “I was elected to support the stakeholders of IPS. Well, some of those

Delores Brents stakeholders might want to go to another school. Do I stop caring about that child because they no longer attend an IPS school? I simply can’t do it. I care. No matter where you decide to educate your child, I still support you.” With the scrutiny she regularly receives from opponents of her non-traditionai approach to public education and the numerous other board and community obligations, Brents acknowledged her decision to seek reelection was not easy. In fact, had it not been for Dr. Ray Hawkins, a friend with whom she credits reminding her the job she originally set out to accomplish in 1998 is unfinished, next month's election may have been short one incumbent. Though assured another four years as board commissioner of District 5, Brents’ support of various reforms have cost her support traditionally received by incumbent school board members. However, what she has lost in political and financial support, she said she has gained in increased community support and peace of mind in that she did not compromise her stance. She does not regret her decision to run again for the seat, and added the fact that no one ran against her speaks volumes about her constituents’ faith in her productivity. “My telephone has rung nonstop since last year with parents, teachers, care givers, administrators, business leaders, all asking me to consider running for another term,” she said. “What is wonderful is all the support I’ve gained as people take the time to get to know me, and stop listening to the half-truths, and slanted personal opinions.”

Brents said she expects continued debate on her positions over the next four years. But careful not to back away from her stances nor the core issue of the district’s overall low achievement, the commissioner assured that she will stick to her principles on public education

reform.

And, if she happens to once again be in the minority on key reform issues, at least it is familiar territory. “Those who choose to be closed minded on the issue of true educational reform will simply be just that. Closedminded. I’m not trying to change anyone’s mind. I have more pressing work to do,” she con-

cluded.

Barato Britt is the executive director of the Indiana Chapter of BAEO, an organization that promotes education reform issues in the effort of stimulated dialogue on education options.

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