Indianapolis Public Schools to Abandon Two Buildings

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is moving forward with the sale of two former school buildings. One building will be sold to a youth organization, while another will be offered for sale or lease to a charter school.

The building that once housed Francis Bellamy School 102 will be sold to Voices Corp. youth organization for $550,000. This building is located in the North Eastwood addition on the city's south side.

"We're always looking for ways to use our facilities more efficiently and generate revenue," said an IPS spokesperson.

The other former school, which once housed Raymond Brandes School 65, will be sold to a charter school under the state's "$1 Charter Law." This building is located on the city's south side and will be offered to potential buyers through the Indiana Department of Education.

"The goal of this law was to provide affordable facilities for charter schools," said an IPS spokesperson. "We're just following the rules and making our unused buildings available."

The "$1 Charter Law" requires public school corporations to offer certain unused, vacant or underutilized school buildings for a lease or sale for $1 to charter schools and state-funded educational institutions.