Hatcher provides update on Gary school board changes

An amendment authored by State Rep. Ragen Hatcher (D-Gary) to Senate Bill 327 gives Gary residents a majority on the board of the Gary Community Schools. The bill, which advanced through the Indiana House of Representatives earlier this week by a vote of 94-4, creates a five-member appointed school board in Gary to replace the Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board, which currently oversees the school corporation.

“This is the first step in bringing local control back to Gary Community Schools,” Hatcher said. “Under the legislation, the mayor of Gary and the Gary Common Council will both appoint one member, and the Indiana secretary of education will appoint three members, one of whom must be a Gary resident and another either a resident of Gary or Lake County.

“It is critically important that members of the community have a voice on their school board. This legislation gives back some of the control that has been taken away over the past few years, and I hope it's a starting point to have school board members who are elected by the people of Gary making up the entire board. I'd like to thank Sen. Eddie Melton (D-Gary) and State Reps. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary) and Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) for fighting for the Gary community.

“This bill represents a bright new day for Gary families, students and educators, and I hope to see it head to the governor's desk soon.”

After passing through the House of Representatives, the bill now returns to the Senate for concurrence.