The Lilly Endowment is pouring millions into Indy school buildings. What does that mean for students?
Did you know search engines like Google are changing the way you see news? Keep Chalkbeat’s valuable education coverage at the top of your feeds by clicking here and checking the box next to our name. When Herron High School students put on a performance, there’s a challenge: The school doesn’t have a theater. Instead, students create one inside the technical theater classroom, by moving stacks…
The Lilly Endowment, a major donor in Indianapolis, has invested $25 million to fund improvements at Herron High School, including a new theater. This donation is part of the endowment's Marion County K-12 Public Schools Initiative, which has allocated $348 million in total funding for 19 school districts and charter schools across the city.
The project aims to provide much-needed space for students, who currently improvise in their historic building, which has long lacked adequate facilities. The endowment's funding allows schools to bypass taxpayers and address space issues without raising taxes. However, some experts question whether this reliance on private donations might displace public funding and limit democratic control over education.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Indianapolis Public Schools' (IPS) potential to receive funding, Herron High School will need to match about 20% of the theater's costs, or around $5 million, through fundraising efforts. The new theater, expected to be completed in the near future, will also serve as a community space for students.
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