Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard Visits Fountain Square Academy
Students Offer Tour; Ask Many Questions

August 28, 2008

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard met with administration and talked with students at Fountain Square Academy today. The visit was part of Ballard’s tour of Indianapolis charter schools; the Office of the Mayor of Indianapolis is an approved authorizer of charter schools under Indiana law. FSA was authorized by the Office of the Mayor during former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson’s tenure.

Mayor Ballard first met with FSA Principal Sr. Pamela K. Doyle, OSB, and three representatives of the Greater Educational Opportunities Foundation (GEO Foundation) which sponsors and supports charter schools, including FSA. GEO representatives included Vice President and Director of Schools Bill Herman, Vice President/General Counsel Dana Johnson, and Director of Community Relations Mary G. Clark.

Sr. Pam led the discussion, sharing news of positive developments such as our 80% returning staff rate for this school year, continuing involvement of the Theatre of Inclusion, and the significant improvement in school climate among both students and staff. Sr. Pam highlighted the availability of free college credit through our partnership with Ivy Tech Community College.

Ballard, in turn, shared with the group that he is a first generation college graduate and that his family was virtually the only family on his block that sent children to college. He acknowledged the importance of parental involvement in children’s education and urged that FSA continue its efforts to keep parents involved – and physically on campus as much as possible.

Next, Ballard was introduced to and received a tour of the school from students Carrie Dugan, Tabitha White, and Jared Wilson. During the tour, Ballard asked each student which college they plan to attend and what they are currently considering for careers. The students were open and talkative and told the mayor what benefits they have received at FSA, contrasted with the schools they attended prior to FSA. Ballard was interested and engaged in the conversation.

Finally, Ballard addressed the student body, where the first order of business was to publicly recognize student Jessica Duff as FSA’s most improved student. Visibly surprised and moved, Jessica approached the mayor’s podium and received Ballard’s congratulations and a certificate of achievement. Before she could return to her seat, however, Ballard surprised her (and the staff) with an additional token of congratulations: two tickets to the first-ever home game of the Indianapolis Colts in Lucas Oil Stadium. The final surprise? The tickets were in the Mayor’s Skybox.

Ballard then spoke to the student body, reminding them that they have parents and teachers who are committed to a successful life for each student at FSA. He encouraged making choices that will ensure a successful life ten years from now, giving back to your community, and avoiding the violent drug culture. He reminded the students specifically that voluntarily involving themselves in a group which uses or deals drugs is voluntarily subjecting themselves to a violent culture.

Opening the discussion to questions, Ballard was asked about college affordability, the size of the Indianapolis budget, neighborhood safety and school choice, from more serious students, to how he felt when he learned he won the election, is it fun being the mayor, and why are you here today, from the merely curious. Ballard was engaging and the students were, too.

In all, Ballard answered 21 questions and stayed ten minutes longer than planned.