Recognition of West Side's Girls Basketball Team was ice breaker at contentious board meeting

Payless Friday for Gary schools' staff approved then rescinded

Contributed By:The 411 News

The Gary school district, already unsure about funds to make payrolls in March, sent a message last night that the next payday on Friday, February 17 was in doubt.

Payroll for school district employees, usually a no discussion matter for board members, became entangled in unexpected items on the agenda – a proposal to return Roosevelt High School to district control and the hiring of new employees.

Tuesday night’s Board of School Trustees meeting opened contentiously when board member Carlos Tolliver objected to the new agenda items but was silenced when board president Rosie Washington decided to adjourn the meeting. The impasse was broken when the new hires item was removed from the agenda and the board meeting resumed.

Helping to break the ice at the meeting were recognitions for students that included West Side’s Girls Basketball Team.

The board’s approval was needed for reduction in force and elimination of 14 custodians and maintenance personnel, but Supt. Pruitt had included new employees for administrative positions.

Jack Martin, the district’s financial advisor defended the staff cuts. “The school district is broke. In March, we have 3 payrolls and we don’t have the cash.” He said, the cascading effects of a drop in property tax revenue, reduced student enrollment, and payouts for retirees have drained funds. “We are working with the state to come up with something.”

When the vote came on the superintendent’s consent agenda, the result was a 3-3 tie with one abstention, denying a payday for staff on Friday. That vote may have been a result of the full board not knowing the new hires had been removed and it was a vote not expected.

Supt. Cheryl Pruitt has proposed a joint venture between Edison Learning and the Gary school corporation to manage Roosevelt starting July 1. When Roosevelt became a state supervised school in 2012, Edison Learning was hired by the state as its partner to act as manager for the 5-year takeover. Supt. Pruitt needed board approval for the joint venture.

Marlon Mitchell, Campus President of Ivy Tech Northwest in Gary, made the presentation on the joint venture, “Innovative Network and Education Services.” Mitchell described a plan that has been in preparation over the last two years. It will create a “transformation zone,” looking at a collection of schools that work together and aligning their curriculums through elementary, middle and high school. “This will ensure that the student is on a gradual trajectory to earning a Core 40 diploma.”

“In our committee meeting Monday night, we moved to delay the Roosevelt proposal because we needed more time for review,” Tolliver said. “Even your attorney said he hadn’t read it. Now it’s on tonight’s agenda. I got this contract online over the weekend. No way could I digest it by Tuesday.”

Nellie Moore voiced her opposition to bringing Roosevelt back. She too received the 57-page proposal over the weekend, but read it all on Monday. “I feel I am deceiving those people who don’t want Jefferson and Watson closed at the end of the year; who want to keep buildings open in their neighborhoods. Now we are going to stream money into Edison Learning, a for-profit company co-owned by Magic Johnson.”

Moore referred to an artwork placed near her at the meeting to clarify her objections. It was from the district’s Beadtown Collection, reflecting words from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “I never intend to adjust myself to economic conditions that will take necessities from the many to give luxuries to the few.”

After the board approved the Roosevelt proposal 5-2, with Tolliver and Moore’s no votes, Supt. Pruitt reminded the board of the tie vote on the consent agenda. “Personnel, payroll, purchase orders, resolutions, and reimbursements for insurance won’t be met. I need recommendations from the board.”

The abstaining board member on the consent agenda, James Piggee then offered to change his vote to approval.

Martin said he will be meeting with state officials next week in Indianapolis.

Story Posted:02/15/2017