New education district coming to city’s near northwest side

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Marian University officials on Wednesday said they plan to open a one-stop education stop on the site of an old Veterans Affairs hospital.

University officials said they’re partnering with Vincennes University and about a dozen traditional public, charter and parochial K-12 schools to launch the Riverside Education Innovation District, or REID. Centered on the site of the old Larue Carter Hospital campus, the district will offer classes to both children and adults. Offerings will include student and family literacy support, high school equivalency classes for adults who have not completed high school, in-person classes for hybrid students attending Marian University Preparatory School, accelerated associate and bachelor’s degrees, and vocational classes.

Marian University President Dan Elsener told News 8 the course offerings are still under development but will emphasize in-demand technology-related jobs. He said child care and wellness services could be offered as well.

Community leaders called the idea transformative. Flanner House Executive Director Brandon Cosby said his organization and Marian University have slowly been working in closer cooperation and the REID is a good example of meeting in the middle.

“The tremendous education and training and programming opportunities that are not only going to enrich the lives of those in the immediate area, but the ripple effect by having the lives of children and families completely transformed by the significant work and the opportunities that are going to take place,” Cosby said.

Gov. Mike Braun said he wants to see more projects like the REID. He said he likes the idea of bringing together a variety of educational services under one roof.

“What I just heard, what you’ve got in mind, I think what you’re doing is maybe setting the trend for what education looks like in many other places,” Braun said. “And how you keep it relevant, how you make it to where you can afford to do it, and the market has said what you’re doing at Marian University makes sense.”

Elsener said renovations to the old hospital will begin immediately. He said classes should begin in 2027.

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