The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Wednesday, October 28, 2015. (Interviews With Concerned Clergy President Rev. David Greene, Activist Larry Vaughn and IPS School Board Member Gayle Cosby On Continuing Community Concern On IPS. Discussion/Reaction Starts At 56:37 Mark On PODCAST Media Player). While the Indianapolis Public School Board is delaying a final decision on whether to move IPS’ elementary Performing Arts magnet school from Mary Nicholson School 70 its longtime location to a location just south of downtown, controversy over the move and a growing perception that IPS talks about openness and transparency but acts in an arrogant manner, disregarding community wishes.
Rev. David Greene
Rev. David Greene, President of Concerned Clergy appeared on Afternoons with Amos to talk about Tuesday night’s IPS School Board meeting. Rev. Greene was greatly concerned about the flawed decision making policy of IPS that seems to want to move minority children’s’ school while taking actions to increase quality educational options for the declining white minority of students in the district.
IPS Deputy Supt. Operations Scott Martin (R) Covers Microphone To Stop Activist Larry Vaughn From Speaking At IPS Board Meeting
Rev. Greene was also appalled by the actions of the Board President Diane Arnold in invoking a rarely used IPS policy to evict a speaker from the Board Meeting. Community activist Larry Vaughn, who speaks his mind on local issues in caustic public testimony at City-County Council meetings and hearing; state legislative committee hearings; meetings of the State Board of Education and IPS.
Activist Larry Vaughn Peacefully Leaving IPS Ed Center As Deputy Supt. Martin Watches
Vaughn was evicted from the meeting when he compared some board members and Supt. Dr. Lewis Ferebee to “child molesters” in how their policies are, in Vaughn’s view, harming minority children. Calling into the program, Vaughn explained his actions then revealed some disturbing information. Vaughn said an unnamed IPS officials objected to his bringing signs into the meeting. That official said signs were prohibited. That official said he was acting under the authority of Board President Arnold and he would follow her direction. That same official Afternoons with Amos Host Amos Brown had problems with as he covered the IPS Board meeting. After Vaughn was ejected, Brown asked for this official’s name. He refused to answer or acknowledge Brown. Brown then learned later that the person was IPS’ Deputy Supt. of Operations Scott Martin. Martin is an IPS employee earning $150,000 yearly who was recruited in May 2014 from the Davenport, Iowa schools. Martin lied to Vaughn because the IPS Board has no policy prohibiting signs at their public meetings. And Martin doesn’t work for the Board. he works for the Superintendent. Board members can’t order him to take actions on their behalf. IPS Board Member Gayle Cosby was also appalled when Brown told her that story when she called in concerned that IPS parents didn’t know about a serious of meetings where parents of students at the Key School which IPS wants to close, junior high students at Broad Ripple who will be transferred out and parents of School 70 students. Those meetings will be next week, all at 6pm. Monday, Nov 3rd at Key School; Tuesday, Nov 3rd at School 70 and Wednesday, Nov 4th at Broad Ripple. Rev. Greene also feels its time for Black leadership to demand a meeting with IPS Supt. Ferebee to express serious concerns over IPS’ direction and how proposed policies are harming the district and minority children.
Some of Homes In Historic Ransom Place Historic District / Nat’l Park Service
(Interview With Ransom Place Residents Starts At 24:33 Mark On PODCAST Media Player). In another controversy, a Bloomington based developer wants to build huge three and four story apartment buildings along Dr. King Street at 10th Street and adjacent to the rear of the Madame Walker Theater. But residents who live in the Ransom Place Historic District downtown are greatly concerned over the developer’s effort. Located between Dr. King Street, Indiana Avenue and 10th Street, Ransom Place Historic District is the most intact 19th century neighborhood associated with African Americans in Indianapolis. The district was home to many black business leaders over its long history. The district is named for the prominent Ransom family that resided in the district. Freeman Ransom was the patriarch of the family. Freeman was an attorney and for years was the corporate attorney and manager of the Madame C. J. Walker Company. His son, Willard, also lived in the district and was a noted attorney. Other well known black civic leaders, doctors, attorneys, and other professionals lived in the district as well. Ransom Place features Queen Anne cottages with T-plans and L-plans were popular in the neighborhood. Most date from the 1890s. Researchers of American vernacular architecture have long theorized that the “shotgun” house type is African in origin. Ransom Place is on the National Register of Historic Places, maintain by the National Park Service, US Department of the Interior. Paula Brooks and Yvette Fancher, of the Ransom Place Association appeared on Afternoons with Amos to sound the alarm about the dangers to this historic neighborhood. Brooks and Fancher are not only concerned about the parking pressures this multi apartment development will create, they are also concerned that the apartments will negatively impact the historic character of the neighborhood. More odious is the attitude of the developer. who has refused to commit to at least adhering to Indianapolis’ goal of doing at least 15% business with minority-owned businesses; commit to hiring individuals from the community to work on the project and consider naming his developments after historic African-Americans in Indiana and Indianapolis history. The Afternoons with Amos PODCAST For Wednesday, October 28, 2015. Runs 92 Minutes ©2015 WTLC/Radio One. PODCAST Starts After Brief Video Ad.
