Live reporting by
Mitch Duncan
Wayne Township seeks to improve literacy
I will live-tweet the Education Committee of the Indianapolis City-County meeting tonight at 5:30. The meeting includes Keith Graves, D-District 9 (Chair); Josh Bain, R-District 21; John Barth, D-District 7; Dan Boots, D-District 3; and Derek Cahill, R-District 23.
04:28 PM Mar 4, 2025 CST
Other current committee members also include: Michael-Paul Hart, R-District 20; Jessica McCormick, D-District 16; Carlos Perkins, D-District 6; and Leroy Roblinson, D-District 1. @mirrorindy @indydocumenters The meeting started at 5:30.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Keith Graves introduced tonight's meeting with information about Indianapolis' reading level and the introduction of Wayne Township's superintendent, Jeffrey Butts.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Butts introduced the Education Committee with mainline statistics about Wayne Township School: Staff: 2,2270 Students: 15, 810 Countries: 90 Schools & Programs: 22 Multilingual Students: 6,000+ Students of Color: 70%+
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Dr. Denita Harris, Assistant Superintendent, spoke next on the District's Demographics. Wayne Township has a total of 6,666 students who speak a different language.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Dr. Shenia Suggs, Assistant Superintendent, spoke on Community Feedback. Suggs provides information about custodians appreciating their jobs.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Butts spoke again, and acknowledges that the school had to cut money since COVID-19 in 2020. The Superintendent wished for Wayne Township to get back into the arts. (To fund the Arts).
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Butts emphasizes Wayne's four areas of focus: Reconceptualizing Teaching & Learning Increasing Student Belonging Recruiting and Retaining Great Staff Building and Sustaining One Community
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Dr. Elizabeth Walters, Assistant Superintendent, spoke on Professional Developments within the current structures of a K-12 education.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Dr. Heather Pierce, Assistant Superintendent, spoke on literacy. Pierce informs the Committee about Wayne's partnerships with families and sharing information and resources with the students.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Walters spoke again. The assistant superintendent emphasized the township's necessity for high school diplomas and students' next step after graduation.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters The Eli Lilly Grant came into discussion when Butts informed the essential duty to structure the functions of Wayne Township education through efficiency and the economy.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Mr. Steven Samuel, Assistant Superintendent/ Finance & Ops, talked about the financial implications of Wayne Township's energy and resources. Samuel spoke on solar panels and the benefits of saving money simultaneously.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters "What questions are our students asking?" Butts asked hypothetically, to the Committee when it came to the topics of AI.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Councilman Perkins asked Butts how Wayne Township accounts for tests scores and preschool learning. Butts states that preschools are at a eight classroom maximum and confirms that HeadStart helped Wayne Township as result.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Perkins confirms that he believes in universal pre-K for students. The councilman also asked Butts on the workforce decline in teaching, and the superintendent explained that teachers are both leaving the profession and finding jobs closer to their home.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters Bain asked about a merit-based pay system that is given to teachers' evaluation. Butts explained that Wayne helps teachers while trying to work with them on advancing their performance.
@mirrorindy @indydocumenters The meeting ended at 6:43. Throughout the meeting, three individuals held signs that read "IEA is watching" (Indianapolis Education Association, Indianapolis Public School (IPS) union and "No education slush fund!" during the meeting.
*Edited: "I will live-tweet the Indianapolis City-County meeting on the Education Committee at 5:30 tonight.