Telethia Barrett, left, and Jackie Lee speak at Thursday's DUAB meeting in Gary

Indianapolis-based school board comes to Gary to hear from residents

Contributed By:The 411 News

The general public was not as gentle voicing its dissatisfactions with the operation of Gary's public schools as State Rep. Vernon Smith during Thursday's meeting of the Distressed Units Appeal Board at the Gary Career Center.

A standing room only crowd filled the cafeteria to welcome the DUAB, Gary's Indianapolis-based school board that has managed the Gary public schools since the 2017 state takeover of the district.

That year, the DUAB handed off day-to-day district operations to MGT, a consulting firm and Gary Schools Recovery, LLC, a subsidiary of MGT that named an emergency manager to act as the schools superintendent.

The State of Indiana, the downstate school board and the Florida-based consulting firm have created an education crisis in Gary that Rep. Smith blames for causing a school district that had "A, B, C, D, and F school report cards before the takeover, to now being a district with F report cards for all schools."

Changes to the state's school funding formula, the treatment of the then Gary school superintendent in 2017 by MGT, the concentration on finances instead of academics, and a communications gap leaving the public without a voice Rep. Smith cited as missteps leading to residents disgust with its state managers.

Gary needs its own school board and Gary needs its own superintendent, "... not one appointed by the state, not one appointed by the DUAB, but one appointed by the citizens of Gary," Smith said.

Smith applauded the improved financial status of the district, now able to pay its bills and manage its debt. The Gary Community School Corporation was facing bankruptcy in 2016 -- the reason for the state takeover.

When the public came to the microphone, the criticism was harsh and personal. DUAB Executive Director Pete Miller said 40 had signed up to speak and "we'll stay here as long as it takes for everyone to have their turn."

Jackie Lee told the DUAB, "I think you need to apologize to us when you have wronged so many people in the community. It's time to apologize to the schools you failed ... the children you failed ... the superintendent you drug through the ground, Dr. Cheryl Pruitt, that is here today. You failed us; just make it right."

Some of the critics pointed to GCSC Manager Dr. Paige McNulty, the acting schools superintendent and face in Gary of the state takeover.

Telethia Barrett talked about her daughter, injured at West Side High School. Barrett said she had found her daughter laying in a puddle of blood and unconscious. "No one had attended to her. An ambulance was never called."

Barrett said, "I have yet to have a hearing. Dr. McNulty has denied me the ability to have an advocate. There is no school board for me to go to. Dr. McNulty has ignored my phone calls, emails, and attempts to come in and talk."

The DUAB has met at least two times in Gary, but regularly holds monthly meetings in Indianapolis. Video conferencing allows Gary residents to view the meetings online. The public is welcome to attend the open meetings if they desire to travel to Indianapolis. Whether attending in person or online, the public is allowed to comment by signing up the day of the meeting with at least 5 minutes advance notice. Public comment sessions are held before the meeting begins.

Not until 2020 could online viewers make a comment at DUAB meetings. Each speaker is given 3 minutes to make a statement before the meeting starts, but the DUAB members do not respond or reply to comments and questions.

Gary's school district is the only entity in the state under control of the DUAB.

The panel consists of 5 voting members and 2 non-voting advisory members serving one-year terms. Advisory members are appointed by the leadership in the Indiana House. Since the state takeover of the Gary schools, one advisory member has been a northwest Indiana legislator serving Gary.

State Senator Eddie Melton is the current advisory board member representing Gary. The position has revolved between Melton and Rep. Smith.

The DUAB has scheduled its next meeting for October 21 in Indianapolis.

Story Posted:10/16/2021