Hammond school board president Carlotta Blake-King

Hammond School Board President Carlotta Blake-King pushes for transparency, student success

Contributed By: Jonathan Bradford, Off the Cover News

Carlotta Blake-King, president of the Hammond School Board, is focused on building a stronger future for students through transparency, accountability, and educational reform.

Blake-King is implementing new initiatives and advocating for systemic changes, particularly in the management of school funds. She remains committed to putting children first and ensuring their educational success.

“I have been an advocate for young children and people all my adult life,” Blake-King said. “I think it started with my father. When I was a child, we would sit around reading the newspaper. When I stayed with my grandparents, we always talked about politics and knew who was running at the time. That left a big impression on me as a kid.”

Her involvement in education deepened when she became a parent. After enrolling her children at Maywood Elementary School, King joined the Parent Teacher Association, sparking her interest in community activism and local politics.

As school board president, Blake-King has prioritized improving K-12 student performance, particularly standardized test scores. Hammond public schools face significant challenges, including a lack of funding for teachers and staff, as well as low academic achievement.

The district’s average math proficiency score stands at just 12%. Harding Elementary has reported a 38% math proficiency rate. Reading scores are also concerning, with Harding reporting a 20% proficiency rate.

“I believe we have to prepare our kids for a global education,” Blake-King said. “The opposition was planning while we were asleep. The low-test scores in Indiana, especially among third graders, are a serious issue, and nothing was being done about it.”

“Everything we do should be centered on the students, not the adults,” Blake-King said. “It becomes adult-centered when we give jobs to colleagues, approve unnecessary contracts, and fail to enforce proper checks and balances.”

Blake-King is also advocating for more mentors and tutors in schools.

“We need mentors and tutors to come into our schools. All you need is a background check because our children need you,” she said. “Some students may be struggling at home, while others face bullying. But we can't ignore the bullies either. If we do, they may end up on the streets committing crimes. Everyone needs support.”



Aisha Chism, a former city of Hammond employee, praised Blake-King’s leadership.

“I was delighted to learn Ms. King was president of the school board. I’ve always respected her for her strength, conviction and integrity,” Chism said.

Blake-King also raised concerns about the district’s compliance with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), emphasizing the need to ensure students receive the accommodations they require.

“I don’t believe we have followed state laws regarding IEPs,” she said. “When you see kids acting out in class, it’s often because their IEP states they need one-on-one learning, and they aren’t getting it.”

To address these issues, Blake-King said the board has taken proactive steps to engage the community.

“As a board member, we’ve already started reaching out for support,” she said. “We sent out over 79 letters to churches and other organizations, informing them of our meeting times and asking them to attend or send someone who can advocate for these kids.”

The school board’s first major task under King’s leadership was hiring a new superintendent. Dr. Telisa S. Reed was selected and has already begun working with her cabinet.

“Her nickname is ‘The Fixer.’ I liked what she said she can do since I’m all about action,” Blake-King said.



One of the district’s most pressing issues was the lack of bus transportation, which was restored on Jan. 8, 2025. During their first meeting on Jan. 7, 2025, the school board and Superintendent Reed decided to reinstate bus service for several schools.

Elementary schools receiving full transportation services include Lincoln, Irving, O’Bannon, and Burns-Hicks. However, some questioned the fairness of the decision.

Blake-King responded, noting that certain communities were disproportionately affected by previous transportation cuts.

“Turner Park, the Renaissance, and O’Bannon communities were impacted the most,” she said. “Interim Superintendent Wilson stated on record that when funds became available, more communities would be serviced. But to my knowledge, no other communities in the district felt the loss of bus transportation as those 3.”

Blake-King has emphasized the need for transparency in the district’s finances and has called for a forensic audit.

“Taxpayers and stakeholders were confused and angry about what happened to the $15 million referendum money,” she said. “We started hearing rumors that the Distressed Unit Appeal Board (DUAB) was going to take over our school district finances. A forensic audit should have been conducted under the former superintendent.”

Shortly after taking office in January, Blake-King received unexpected financial reports.

“The Education Fund jumped from $789,000 to $14 million, and our Rainy-Day Fund went from $4 million to over $6.7 million,” she said. “We don’t know where that money came from, and we will be conducting a forensic audit.”

Blake-King is also working to address teacher retention and compensation.

“Our veteran teachers, with incredible skill sets, want better salaries and benefits—especially regarding their health insurance,” she said. “But the former superintendent claimed the district was broke.”

She urged teachers to remain patient as changes take effect.

“I’ve been telling our teachers, ‘Please don’t quit, just give us a chance,’” Blake-King said. “I understand that some have left because they have to feed their families.”

Moving forward, Blake-King aims to prioritize in-house professional development for teachers rather than relying on outside consultants.

“Instead of paying contractors big money to come in, say ‘hi’ and ‘goodbye,’ we need hands-on training for our teachers,” she said.

Despite the challenges, the board president remains committed to transparency, equity, and improving education in Hammond.

“I want my legacy to be that I made a difference,” she said. “Improved test scores, increased morale, and children beginning to love themselves again. It takes teamwork to accomplish these goals.”

As 2025 is underway, Blake-King says Hammond is in “restoration and elevation mode.”

Story Posted:02/25/2025