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Arlington Middle School’s planetarium has sat unused for years, gathering dust as a storage space full of chairs, keyboards and boxes.
But if voters say yes May’s $410 million ballot issuerestores an abandoned gem that was Indiana’s first high school planetarium when it was consecrated in 1965.
Tax increases proposed by Indianapolis Public Schools will help improve Arlington and 22 other school buildings. Rebuild Stronger Reorganization.
This plan also Run school districts more efficiently with better education programsclosed six schools and offered specialized academic programs in others.
It also divided the district’s K-8 schools, Create distinctive elementary and junior high schoolsfrom bands and world languages to softball and baseball, ensuring students receive better academic and extracurricular activities.
If the ballot measure passes, Arlington Middle School will receive $66 million, making it the largest beneficiary of the 23 schools. Arlington will transform into her STEM school in 2024-2025, integrating a planetarium into its curriculum. The school will also add her 6th grade to the existing 7th grade and her 8th grade.
It will also add an 81,000-square-foot two-story building, create a new media center and family resource center, and establish a science lab and makerspace.
“Arlington’s next chapter is exciting because it allows us to write new stories,” said principal Yesha Billups.
Proceeds from the ballot measure will also restore playgrounds that were important when the school served students in grades 7 through 12, but are now underused by students.
Upgrades transform these areas into high-quality, competitive areas.
“Once completed, kids will be able to practice six sports simultaneously in this space,” IPS chief operating officer Bill Murphy said Thursday morning, standing behind the school overlooking the field. said while
The main goal of the tax increase is to have all primary and secondary schools in good standing within the next eight years. This allows these buildings to require only regular maintenance rather than large investments with HVAC and roof repairs.
Authorities say more than 30% of the district is in “poor” conditions.In other words, the building renovation cost is 30% to 40% of replacement cost for entire buildingA 2020 analysis commissioned by IPS reported that Arlington was in “good” shape. In other words, the cost of the upgrade the school needs is only between 10% and 20% of the cost of replacing the entire building.
But Arlington, built in 1961, will be upgraded with roofs, interior lighting, fire alarms, cameras and security, Murphy said.
“When I think about the experiences of students every day, it’s really a shame to come to a school where it’s too hot or too cold and the clean, clear water doesn’t flow fast,” he said. It is like a prerequisite for the success of
Improvement at other schools This includes upgrades to allow Thomas Ker Howe Middle School to enroll students again, as well as a new building on the Joyce Kilmer School 69 site.
Early voting is available now at the Indianapolis City Courthouse, with additional sites opening April 22.
Amelia Pak-Harvey is in charge of Indianapolis and Marion County schools at Chalkbeat Indiana.contact amelia apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org.
Chalkbeat is a non-profit news agency that covers public education..
