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Carley Lanich

@carleylanich.bsky.social

190 followers 220 following 120 posts

Writing about all things Indianapolis education for Mirror Indy. Chat with me about preK-12 schools. Story ideas or tips? Reach me at [email protected].

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Mar 19

Hi Bluesky! 👋

I'm a reporter with Mirror Indy. I write about education in Indianapolis — everything from early childhood through high school.

I'm particularly interested in what works, what doesn't, and what the community wants to know about its schools.

Curious about Mirror Indy? Check us out 👇

Our homepage

We're a nonprofit news site whose mission is to serve and reflect Indianapolis residents through community-oriented reporting.

mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 7d

NEW: Shenia Suggs will serve as Wayne Township's next superintendent.

Here's some quick takeaways from last night's school board meeting and the incoming superintendent's contract, via @mirrorindy.org: mirrorindy.org/wayne-townsh...

Wayne Township has found its next superintendent

Shenia Suggs will lead the westside school district starting this January.

mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 8d

The Wayne Township school board has just voted to name Assistant Superintendent Shenia Suggs its new superintendent.

She follows Jeff Butts who plans to retire from the district in January.

More to come soon, via @mirrorindy.org.

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 8d

Enlace Academy's Hispanic Heritage Night is all about helping kids embrace their own culture while also learning something new.

Their principal told me recently: “The representation is exactly what I needed as a kid.” Read more, via @mirrorindy.org: mirrorindy.org/enlace-acade...

This westside school teaches students to embrace their heritage

Here’s how Enlace Academy staff help their students find belonging.

mirrorindy.org

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 11d

An update: The Mind Trust, which has long advocated for reform efforts in Indy, responded quickly with a statement.

Much of it centers on the challenging financial landscape IPS faces coming out of a legislative session that shifted more property tax $ to charter schools.

Here's the statement:

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 11d

The trustees also called for a commitment to keep an elected school board.

This comes following recent calls to add mayoral or City-County Council appointees to the board.

We touched on some of this in a recent @mirrorindy.org story: mirrorindy.org/indianapolis... (4/4)

With IPS’ future in limbo, trustees begin to weigh in

As charter advocates call for change, the IPS board is putting together its own recommendations.

mirrorindy.org

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 11d

Standout recommendations include:

➡️ The mayor's office should become Indy's only charter authorizer.
➡️ A centralized bus system for all school types.
➡️ A repeal of Indiana's "$1 law".
➡️ A moratorium on new schools.
➡️ Rejection of an all charter school system. (3/4)

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 11d

Here's part two. (2/4)

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 11d

🧵NEW: IPS board members just released their priorities for the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance — the group that's set to make recommendations about how IPS and charter schools should operate moving forward.

Here's part one of the statement — it's a long one! (1/4)

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 18d

We're starting to hear from IPS commissioners as work picks up for the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance.

What do the elected commissioners think about appointed school boards? And, does Indy have too many schools?

Here's the latest, via @mirrorindy.org: mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

With IPS’ future in limbo, trustees begin to weigh in

As charter advocates call for change, the IPS board is putting together its own recommendations.

mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 19d

"I'm so ready," Keyiri Ramos told me on Tuesday. Now, Ramos is signing up for a committee to help make the change happen.

Learn more about the changes being proposed and what could come next in this latest story for @mirrorindy.org (2/2): mirrorindy.org/warren-towns...

‘I’m so ready’: Eastside parents embrace Warren school changes

Fifth graders could move back to elementaries next school year. Here’s what parents think.

mirrorindy.org

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 19d

It's beginning to look like less of a question of whether Warren Township will move its fifth graders back to elementary school and more of a question of how they do it.

I talked to an elementary parent this week who said she's been asking for the change for a long time. (1/2)

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 25d

There's a couple of upcoming community meetings next week as Warren Township weighs its options for the 2026-27 school year.

Here's what you need to know, via @mirrorindy.org (2/2): mirrorindy.org/warren-towns...

Could your Warren Township student go to a different school next year?

Here’s what to know about possible changes coming to eastside elementary and middle schools.

mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 25d

Could elementary students attend a different school in Warren Township next year? Will fifth graders move back to elementaries?

Administrators are creating a new plan to balance enrollment & compete w/other nearby school options. And, they're seeking feedback on the plan. (1/2)

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 26d

Little has been said about who's leading the City-County Council's education committee after Keith Graves stepped down as chair in July.

So, I went to this week's committee meeting to find out. The short of it? I left with more questions than answers.
mirrorindy.org/whos-leading...

Who’s leading the Indianapolis City-County Council education committee?

Little has been said about the role since Councilor Keith Graves stepped down in July.

mirrorindy.org

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · 27d

In 2020, Lillian Barkes knew she wanted to help students use their voice, but she couldn't quite find the right program. So, the former teacher decided to create one.

This weekend, her nonprofit is celebrating its new learning center. Here's how to check it out:
mirrorindy.org/listen-to-ou...

A new space for Indy youth to feel empowered

From 2020 protests to political upheaval, this nonprofit wants to help youth find their voice.

mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 12

Are you (or do you know) a student in Indy? Looking for something fun to do this weekend?

You'd be surprised by how many free/discounted opportunities there are with your student ID.

Sophie Young has your guide for exploring Indy's art scene on a student budget:
mirrorindy.org/student-disc...

Exploring Indy arts and culture is cheaper with a student ID

College and trade school students can get free memberships or discounted tickets at these 13 museums, theaters and and movie houses.

mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 11

We're starting to see signs of how schools will respond to Indiana's property tax changes.

Administrators in Wayne Twp are considering buying fewer buses in the coming years.

Another concern? Utility costs as AES proposes another rate hike. @mirrorindy.org explains: mirrorindy.org/wayne-townsh...

Wayne Township schools plan for higher utility costs and fewer bus purchases

The west Indianapolis school district is tightening its belt in response to Indiana’s new property tax plan.

mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 10

As part of a new contract, IPS is revamping its former ROOTS program at the old Margaret McFarland middle school.

Changes so far have allowed IPS to reach more students in a classroom setting & open fully staffed at the start of the year. Check it out @mirrorindy.org: mirrorindy.org/margaret-mcf...

IPS has a new plan for students who have intense therapeutic needs

A partnership with an outside provider is allowing more kids to spend time at school.

mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 8

I love this story from @clairerafford.bsky.social that asks students what they think of the IUPUI split one year in.

For some, little has changed. Others have had to reconfigure schedules and take classes in other places to graduate on time.

See what students think: mirrorindy.org/iupui-split-...

How are things going a year after the IUPUI split? We asked students.

“There's no ‘just Purdue’ or ‘just IU Indianapolis,’” one student said.

mirrorindy.org

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Reposted by Carley Lanich

Ryan Martin @byryanmartin.bsky.social · Sep 8

Scenes from the Students Demand Action walkout in Indianapolis on Friday: mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

🖊️ @carleylanich.bsky.social
📷 Brett Phelps / @mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 5

For @mirrorindy.org with beautiful photography from Brett Phelps.

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 5

Hundreds of Indy teens walked out of school today — some of their teachers encouraged it. Why?

Gun violence.

Every student I talked to had a story to share about how it's touched their lives. I hope you'll spend some time w/this story.

Teens want us to listen. mirrorindy.org/indianapolis...

‘It doesn’t have to be this way’: Indy students protest gun violence in national walkout

Teens from 4 high schools walked out of class Sept. 5 to call for stricter gun laws.

mirrorindy.org

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 5

Oof. I turned 30 this week. I guess that means I'm officially posts-videos-with-thumb-in-them age! 🙃

Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 5

Students from three Indianapolis high schools walked out of class today to protest gun violence in the wake of the recent Minneapolis school shooting.

Look out for a story soon for @mirrorindy.org to hear from the teens about their trip to the Statehouse.

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 5

These signs from Herron, Shortridge and North Central high school students speak volumes about how teens felt going to class this week after another highly published school shooting.

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Carley Lanich @carleylanich.bsky.social · Sep 5

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