City-County Council to vote if charter school opens in Washington Township as opposition grows

By ERIC WEDDLE This article was co-published by Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI as part of a partnership to increase coverage of township school districts in Marion County. Have a tip or story idea about a township school district? Email in.tips@chalkbeat.org and tips@wfyi.org or fill out this form. Jonathan Hughes, an attorney representing Metropolitan School District of Washington Township in opposition to the rezoning request by Girls In STEM Academy, speaks to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. (Eric Weddle / WFYI) After months of controversy, an all-girls charter school is one step closer to opening in Washington Township. During a meeting Wednesday, the Indianapolis Metropolitan Development Commission approved the request to rezone a former church property for the& Girls IN STEM Academy.& But the path for final approval to open a school at that location is uncertain. Opposition to the school appears to be growing. Officials and parents from the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township fiercely oppose the school. Twelve of the 25 Indianapolis City-County Council members now say they do not want the school to open at the proposed Michigan Road location. The site is in the boundaries of Washington Township schools — and...