In March, Peterson testified before both the Indiana House and Senate Education Committees in favor of charter schools legislation that offers openness and accessibility, accountability, freedom from regulation, and choice for parents.
As soon as the bill becomes law, those who want to start charter schools will be able to apply to one of three sponsors: a public school board, a public university or Mayor Peterson. They will be charged with approving or rejecting charter school proposals, which must contain a plan that explains how the school will be governed, what lessons will be taught, when children will go to school and how discipline will be handled.
"I am acutely aware that I am not an education expert. But I intend to surround myself with people who are," Peterson told the Indianapolis Star. "Most people don't know who's on the School Board, but everyone knows who the mayor is. If people think that we have botched the charter-school initiative, then they have a very clear-cut way of registering their disapproval in a high-visibility election."
Peterson believes that providing the best educational opportunities for children is a cornerstone for strengthening communities. In just over his first year as Mayor of Indianapolis, Peterson is sticking to the basics of his campaign platform, called the "Peterson Plan," a detailed vision for Indianapolis in the new millennium. The plan focuses on fighting crime more effectively, improving schools, and delivering better services to neighborhoods.
Peterson's most ambitious and controversial move since his election has been his enactment of a city ordinance to restrict youth access to violent and sexually explicit video games. The ordinance passed through the city council in July and was supposed to go into effect in October 2000. A federal court blocked the implementation, however, and the case is still pending.
"The extreme violence and sex that have saturated our culture is hurting us in profound ways and are having an especially harmful impact on the youngest and most impressionable in our society," Peterson says. "This is more than prevalent in violent video games, and right now, nothing stops a young child from walking into an arcade and watching or playing a game that would shock and horrify most people."
In February, Peterson welcomed DLC founder Al From, DLC Chairman Sen. Evan Bayh, Gov. O'Bannon and Lt. Gov. Joe Kernan to Indianaplois as they joined to announce that the city will play host to the DLC's fifth annual National Conversation, July 15-17. Peterson and Lt. Gov. Kernan will serve as the co-chairs of the National Conversation, along with Emmis Communications CEO Jeff Smulyan.
Bart Peterson was elected the 47th Mayor of the City of Indianapolis in November 1999. A lifelong resident of Indianapolis and a member of former Indiana Governor Evan Bayh's leadership team, he graduated from Purdue University in 1980 and the University of Michigan School of Law in 1983. He and his wife, Amy Minick Peterson, are the parents of an 11-year old daughter, Meg.
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Mayor Bart Peterson