Indianapolis Mayor Names 9 Members to IPS Budget-Control Board

New municipal corporation will oversee IPS budget and facilities, shifting control from elected school board.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:06pm

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Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has appointed 9 members to a new municipal corporation that will control the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) budget, taking that duty away from the elected IPS school board. The Indianapolis Public Education Corp. board includes 3 charter school leaders, 3 community members, and 3 IPS school board members.

Why it matters

This move represents a significant shift in power away from the elected IPS school board, with the mayor and state legislature creating a new oversight body to manage the district's budget and facilities. It raises questions about the role of local democracy and community control in public education.

The details

The new corporation was created by the Indiana legislature and Republican Governor Mike Braun based on recommendations from the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance, a group led by Mayor Hogsett. The corporation will oversee facility and transportation management for all public schools within the IPS boundary. The 9 board members include charter school leaders, community members, and current IPS school board members.

  • On March 4, 2026, Governor Braun signed House Bill 1423 into law, creating the municipal corporation.
  • On March 31, 2026, Mayor Hogsett announced the 9 appointees to the new Indianapolis Public Education Corp. board.

The players

Joe Hogsett

The Democratic mayor of Indianapolis who appointed the 9 members to the new municipal corporation overseeing the IPS budget.

Mike Braun

The Republican governor of Indiana who signed the legislation creating the Indianapolis Public Education Corp.

Indianapolis Public Education Corp.

The new municipal corporation that will control the IPS budget and facilities, taking that duty away from the elected IPS school board.

Indianapolis Local Education Alliance

A group led by Mayor Hogsett that met throughout 2025 to study school sustainability and make recommendations that led to the creation of the Indianapolis Public Education Corp.

David Harris

The president and CEO of Christel House International, appointed to serve as the chair of the new Indianapolis Public Education Corp. board.

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What’s next

The Indianapolis Public Education Corp. board will begin overseeing the IPS budget and facilities starting in the 2026-27 school year.

The takeaway

The creation of the Indianapolis Public Education Corp. raises concerns about the erosion of local democratic control over public education, as an unelected body now has authority over the IPS budget and facilities. This move reflects broader debates around the role of mayors, state governments, and charter schools in urban school district governance.