Purdue Polytechnic seeks deal to remain completely in Broad Ripple Excessive College

Purdue Polytechnic Excessive College says it’s engaged on a transfer to make Broad Ripple Excessive College its everlasting residence by way of a partnership with Indianapolis Public Faculties, as an alternative of transferring to a newly constructed mixed-use constructing in Broad Ripple.  

The college’s change in plans comes as IPS prepares for a mess of adjustments below its Rebuilding Stronger plan, which might shut seven colleges and reconfigure grade ranges all through the district. 

Below the Rebuilding Stronger plan, which the college board is anticipated to vote on in November, the outdated Broad Ripple Excessive College would home a brand new Broad Ripple Center College with Worldwide Baccalaureate programming. If Purdue Polytechnic reaches its personal cope with IPS, the constitution highschool would additionally make its everlasting residence within the former highschool constructing.

Such an association would supply an answer to the long-standing difficulty of what to do with the highschool, which closed in 2018. The constructing has come to exemplify the constraints of a state regulation that requires college districts to promote or lease vacant buildings for $1.

Purdue Polytechnic Excessive College’s board of administrators is anticipated to vote in November on an settlement for the constitution college to completely occupy the Broad Ripple Excessive College constructing. 

Any such settlement would additionally should be accredited by IPS. IPS didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. 

Purdue Polytechnic, a constitution college that has two campuses in Indianapolis, already occupies elements of the third ground of Broad Ripple Excessive after placing a cope with IPS earlier this 12 months to function within the college for the 2022-23 college 12 months whereas the mixed-use constructing is below development.

However Scott Bess, government director of Purdue Polytechnic Excessive College, mentioned Thursday that staying in Broad Ripple Excessive College would permit the booming college to develop much more. Its plan to occupy a part of the mixed-use constructing on School Avenue would have restricted the college to only 400 college students, he mentioned. 

The college has its greatest freshman class ever this 12 months, Bess mentioned, and staying within the present location would permit the campus to develop to roughly 550 to 600 college students. 

“We had such curiosity, we abruptly realized if that development continues we received’t match within the [newly constructed] constructing,” Bess mentioned. “We additionally wouldn’t be capable of do the issues that make us particular, like an enormous makerspace, a devoted robotics room — these are all issues that eat up area.”

Prime actual property for IPS

The campus for the closed Broad Ripple Excessive College, a 16-acre website on Broad Ripple Avenue, has been thought of one of many district’s most tasty actual property property that may carry vital funds to the district if offered.

However state regulation requires the district to supply vacant colleges to constitution colleges for a lease or buy worth of $1 earlier than promoting them on the open market.

Purdue Polytechnic initially expressed curiosity in utilizing the college for its second Indianapolis campus in 2018, however later backed out of the plan, citing points with the district’s leasing timeline. 

However this 12 months, the constitution college and IPS reached an settlement: Purdue Polytechnic may briefly home its north campus within the constructing by turning into one of many district’s innovation community colleges. 

Innovation colleges are given extra autonomy whereas remaining a part of the district.

Whereas Purdue Polytechnic is paying IPS about $260,000 to make use of elements of the third ground for this college 12 months, Bess mentioned, each events are nonetheless figuring out a closing value of occupying the constructing completely. 

The college will work with IPS to change its present innovation community settlement to permit Purdue Polytechnic to occupy the constructing long run, he mentioned. 

Below the Rebuilding Stronger plan, Broad Ripple Excessive College would additionally get facility upgrades focused for completion in the summertime of 2026. These embrace fixing HVAC and plumbing points, bettering athletic fields and rising security measures — all welcome upgrades for a constructing first constructed in 1923.

A constitution college’s speedy development

Staying at Broad Ripple Excessive College will permit Purdue Polytechnic’s second Indianapolis campus to proceed rising. 

The college enrolls 283 college students at its north campus, Bess mentioned, together with its largest-ever freshman class of 100. The campus launched in 2019-20 with 64 college students, in response to state enrollment knowledge, and grew to 189 in 2021-22.

The IPS college board can also be anticipated to vote on the Rebuilding Stronger plan in November, with an up to date draft of the plan offered in October. 

Amelia Pak-Harvey covers Indianapolis and Marion County colleges for Chalkbeat Indiana. Contact Amelia at apak-harvey@chalkbeat.org.