District Plans TV Ads, Billboards
(TheIndyChannel.com, April 25, 2011)
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Public Schools is going on the offensive, launching a campaign to bring in more students and more tax dollars.
The state’s largest school district, plagued with declining enrollment, is working to launch a new initiative in July aimed at retaining and recruiting students into the district, 6News’ Kara Kenney reported.
“Our target is kids who, within the last couple years, have dropped out of school, and to get them to understand they’re on a path going nowhere,” said district spokeswoman Mary Louise Bewley. “Each student for IPS is about $8,000, that’s of state money. Yes, it’s important to a district that’s losing money.”
IPS is grappling with $20 million in budget cuts, including the elimination of more than 350 teaching positions.
The initiative will include a campaign with advertisements in newspapers and on radio, TV and billboards, as well as a door-to-door outreach effort.
“It’s about the kind of job IPS is doing, upping our game, keeping students in school, keeping them satisfied and getting them to graduate,” Bewley said.
It’s unclear how much the campaign will cost, but the “Discover the New IPS” initiative that launched in 2008 cost the district $25,000.
“I think it’s an excellent use of resources because if I can spend $10 to $15,000 and get back the one to two students, I’ve regained the money I’ve spent,” Bewley said. “It’s just another way to let parents know they’ve got options.”