Sec. 2. (a) In carrying out the purpose of the corporation, the corporation board is granted all powers necessary or appropriate to do the following:
(1) Beginning with the 2028-2029 school year and subject to section 6(b) of this chapter, control the management and operation of school property.
(2) Establish, in collaboration with the nonprofit organization leading the transportation and centralized school facilities pilot program in Marion County and the school city, a unified transportation plan in accordance with section 5 of this chapter and, beginning with the 2028-2029 school year, lead and oversee the provision of transportation of all students to and from participating schools within the geographic boundaries of the school city.
(3) Develop a single school performance framework in accordance with section 3 of this chapter that applies to all participating schools.
(4) Manage a unified enrollment system applicable to all participating school students.
(5) Ensure that, to the extent possible, school property is provided and made available to all participating schools that do not opt out under section 6(b) of this chapter on an equitable basis.
(6) Develop and implement a formula that provides for the fair and equitable distribution of property taxes and other funds to the school city and participating schools.
(7) Track qualitative and quantitative data to monitor outcomes and publicly report data in a manner prescribed by the mayor.
(8) Make, execute, and enforce contracts and all other instruments necessary, convenient, or desirable for the purposes of the corporation, including entering into a contract with, as applicable, the school city and each participating school regarding:
(A) the management and operation of school property;
(B) the provision of transportation of all students to and from participating schools within the geographic boundaries of the school city; and
(C) any other matters the corporation board determines is necessary to carry out the purposes of the corporation.
(9) Acquire, construct, erect, maintain, hold, and contract for construction, erection, or maintenance of real estate, real estate improvements, or an interest in real estate or real estate improvements, as the corporation board considers necessary for school purposes, including buildings, parts of buildings, additions to buildings, rooms, gymnasiums, auditoriums, playgrounds, playing and athletic fields, facilities for physical training, buildings for administrative, office, warehouse, repair activities, or housing school owned buses, landscaping, walks, drives, parking areas, roadways, easements and facilities for power, sewer, water, roadway, access, storm and surface water, drinking water, gas, electricity, other utilities and similar purposes, by purchase, either outright for cash (or under conditional sales or purchase money contracts providing for a retention of a security interest by the seller until payment is made or by notes where the contract, security retention, or note is permitted by applicable law), by exchange, by gift, by devise, by eminent domain, or by lease with or without option to purchase, or by lease under IC 20-47-2 or IC 20-47-3.
(10) Repair, remodel, remove, or demolish, or to contract for the repair, remodeling, removal, or demolition of the real estate, real estate improvements, or interest in the real estate or real estate improvements that the corporation owns, as the corporation board considers necessary for school purposes.
(11) Acquire personal property or an interest in personal property as the corporation board considers necessary for school purposes, including buses, motor vehicles, equipment, apparatus, and appliances, either by cash purchase or under conditional sales or purchase money contracts providing for a security interest by the seller until payment is made or by notes where the contract, security, retention, or note is permitted by applicable law, by gift, by devise, by loan, or by lease with or without option to purchase and to repair, remodel, remove, relocate, and demolish the personal property. All purchases and contracts specified under the powers authorized under subdivisions (9) and (10) and this subdivision are subject solely to applicable law relating to purchases and contracting by municipal corporations in general and to the supervisory control of state agencies as provided in section 8 of this chapter.
(12) To sell or exchange real or personal property or interest in real or personal property that, in the opinion of the corporation board, is not necessary for school purposes to demolish or otherwise dispose of the property if, in the opinion of the corporation board, the property is not necessary for school purposes and is worthless, and to pay the expenses for the demolition or disposition.
(13) Contract with or employ staff to execute the corporation's duties.
(14) Fix and pay the salaries of the executive director and any employees of the corporation.
(15) Maintain an office or offices at a place or places within the geographic boundaries of the school city as the corporation board may designate.
(16) To make budgets, to appropriate funds, and to disburse the money, as applicable, of the corporation in accordance with the formula established under subdivision (6). Subject to subsection (c), to borrow money against current tax collections and otherwise to borrow money, in accordance with IC 20-48-1. Borrowing by the corporation, when considered in addition to indebtedness of the school city, may not equal an aggregate amount that exceeds the debt limitation described by IC 36-1-15-6 for the school city.
(17) Procure insurance against any loss in connection with its property and other assets, including loans and loan notes in amounts and from insurers as the corporation board may consider advisable.
(18) To make all applications, to enter into all contracts, and to sign all documents necessary for the receipt of aid, money, or property from the state, the federal government, or from any other source.
(19) To defend a member of the corporation board or any employee of the corporation in any suit arising out of the performance of the member's or employee's duties for or employment with, the corporation, if the corporation board by resolution determined that the action was taken in good faith. To save any member or employee harmless from any liability, cost, or damage in connection with the performance, including the payment of legal fees, except where the liability, cost, or damage is predicated on or arises out of the bad faith of the member or employee, or is a claim or judgment based on the member's or employee's malfeasance as a member or in employment.
(20) To prepare, make, enforce, amend, or repeal rules, regulations, orders, and procedures:
(A) to carry out the purposes of the corporation; and
(B) that may be designated by an appropriate title such as "policy handbook", "bylaws", or "rules and regulations".
(21) Regularly conduct assessments of school property.
(22) To exercise any other power and make any expenditure in carrying out the general powers and purposes provided in this article or in carrying out the powers delineated in this section which is reasonable from a business or educational standpoint in carrying out purposes of the corporation, including the acquisition of property or the employment or contracting for services, even though the power or expenditure is not specifically set out in this chapter.
(b) The corporation board shall determine the percentage of property tax revenue that the county auditor is required to distribute to the corporation under IC 20-46-8-11.2(j) or IC 20-46-8-12(m), as applicable. The amount determined under this subsection may not exceed three percent (3%) of the total amount of revenue to be distributed under IC 20-46-8-11.2(f), IC 20-46-8-12(h), or IC 20-46-8-12(l), as applicable, to the school city and to each charter school described in IC 20-46-8-12(m)(2) for each settlement period described in IC 6-1.1-27-1.
(c) The public education corporation may issue bonds, enter into leases, or otherwise incur indebtedness after March 31, 2026, and before July 1, 2027, only if the local board of school commissioners established by IC 20-25-3-1 first adopts a resolution approving the issuance of the bonds, entering into the lease, or incurring of indebtedness.
(d) The corporation board shall, in collaboration with the school city and the nonprofit organization leading the transportation and centralized school facilities pilot program in Marion County, do the following:
(1) Complete a feasibility study to determine the best approach for managing school property.
(2) Not later than November 30, 2026, submit to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6 a report that includes information regarding the corporation board's progress in completing the feasibility study under subdivision (1) and report under subdivision (3).
(3) Not later than November 30, 2027, prepare and submit a report regarding the feasibility study under subdivision (1) to the legislative council in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.
This subsection expires July 1, 2028.
As added by P.L.101-2026, SEC.12.
