Nearly 40 IPS administrators face layoff

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Five IPS principals and 30 other administrators could lose their job at the end of the school year.

This comes as the district works to close a $40 million budget gap.

The preliminary layoff notices voted on by the school board Tuesday night are the first of what could be many more cuts this year at IPS.

Thirty-five principals, assistant principals, and deans will receive non-renewal notices.

Superintendent Eugene White said, "We're going to turn a very serious situation, into an opportunity to transform our district for the better. It's not going to be easy, but it’s something we're going to have to do."

24-Hour News 8 spoke with one administrator who didn't want us to disclose her identity, but said she wished district officials had told her personally.

She said, "The word got around, and one of my staff members came up and told me that my name was on the list and that my contract was not going to be renewed this year."

She added, "I was a little taken a back. I knew it was possibility, but I thought, we would know. I thought someone would call and say, this is getting ready to happen."

White said most administrators were notified in December this could happen.

He said, "The board voted last night, but the reason, they [administrators] were not supposed to receive anything until after the board voted. Then they'll get letters, in fact, their letters are in the mail now."

More cuts are anticipated by May, including teachers and classified staff.

White says they'll watch administrator's performance this semester, and some could be called back.

The school board is also hoping to save money on hundreds of staff through an early retirement program announced Monday.