Your Investment at Work: IPS Projects Transform Schools Before Students Return
While students enjoy their final weeks of summer break, hundreds of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) employees and contractors are hard at work across the district.
From new windows at Shortridge High School and electrical upgrades at Broad Ripple Middle School to expanded learning space at KIPP Indy and countless maintenance, technology and safety projects, every improvement shares one purpose: ensuring students return this fall to schools that are safer, more comfortable and better equipped to support learning.
“Summers in school operations are a time when we get a great deal of work done,” said William Murphy, the district’s chief operations officer. “The work closest to children is a year-round labor of love.”
He noted that thanks to the voter-approved $410 million 2023 Capital Referendum, IPS is in the final wave of a multi-year facilities overhaul designed to modernize more than 20 elementary and middle schools.
Major construction and site renovations are in full swing at several key campuses during the summer break:
- Arlington Middle School – A $66 million transformation that features a new classroom wing, state-of-the-art STEM labs, and modernized athletic facilities.
- George Washington Carver School 87 – Construction continues on the second phase of revitalization, adding new classrooms, modernized facilities, and enhanced language-learning spaces.
- Shortridge High School – Installation of new energy-efficient windows to improve comfort, safety, and the learning environment.
- KIPP Indy – Construction of a new addition to expand educational space.
- Broad Ripple Middle School/Purdue Polytechnic North – Electrical infrastructure upgrades to support modern technology and future improvements.
Murphy also noted that students and teachers will see technology refreshes across schools, including classroom devices, network equipment, and instructional technology.
Schools are also undergoing deep cleaning and maintenance, including waxing floors, repainting classrooms where needed, servicing HVAC systems, and preparing cafeterias and gyms. Plus, there are safety and security improvements, such as maintenance of secure entrances, cameras, access-control systems, and emergency communications.
When students leave the buildings, they will find playground and athletic facility maintenance, ensuring outdoor spaces are ready for students when school begins.
Editor's Note: Want to see more of the transformation happening across Indianapolis Public Schools? Check out previous episodes of “Buildings with Bill,” featuring construction updates at Arlington Middle School, Carver School 87, and Broad Ripple Middle School.