No decision on Gary schools bill after 1st round in conference

Contributed By:The 411 News

After nearly an hour of discussion by proponents of the Senate version of SB567 that sought financial help from the state for the Gary school district and supporters of the House version that amended SB567 seeking state takeover of Gary schools along with the Muncie school district, Monday’s conference committee session ended with chairman Luke Kenley’s call for a recess and his closing remark “to stay tuned.”

Fifteen conference committee members, 8 Republicans and 7 Democrats will meet again this week to listen, argue, and come up with a version of the bill they can agree on; although only 4 committee members have voting privileges. The four are Senators Eddie Melton (D-Merrillville) and Kenley (R-Noblesville), the bill’s sponsors and Representatives Tim Brown (R-Crawfordsville) and Patrick Bauer (D-South Bend).

That version must again go before each chamber for a vote – all before April 22, the final day of the General Assembly.

The remaining 11 committee members are advisors. Among them are Representatives Vernon Smith and Charlie Brown, both of Gary.

Monday’s talking points mostly came from members representing districts directly impacted by the bill – Gary and Muncie – although the House version has language that could affect any local school district experiencing financial stress that could lead it to ask for state help.

Melton, Smith, and Brown favor the Senate’s version that seeks interest free loans, grants, and debt restructuring to help relieve the Gary schools financial problems. They said the House version of loans only will not work for a district that cannot pay its bills.

Sen. Melton asked for a moratorium on charter schools in Gary. “Gary has 10 charter schools, draining money and students from the district,” he said.

Rep. Brown asked for reconsideration on the chief academic officer and chief financial officer for the school district proposed in the House version. “Let that person be from Gary, Lake County or northwest Indiana,” Brown said, “someone who is familiar with the issues in the Gary school district and can hit the ground running.”

Committee members representing Muncie want out of the bill completely. Sen. Tim Lanane, Representatives Sue Errington and Melanie Wright said the City of Muncie and the school district can work out the financial problems. “Last week, the school district voted to close 3 elementary schools,” Lanane said. The Muncie school district didn’t ask to be included in the bill, but was inserted in the House version.

Lanane said the Muncie school district doesn’t have failing schools, negating the need for a chief academic officer that is called for in the House version

Another worry for the two school districts is language in the House version that would permit changes in the geographical boundaries of districts in financial distress.

Rep. Robert Behning (R-Indpls.), a supporter of the House version said the need is to focus on the children in the two districts. “Academic and financial problems didn’t happen overnight,” he said and pointed to the Indianapolis public school district that has “righted itself” after being in a similar situation.

Rep. Smith said the comparison of Gary and Indianapolis was unfair. “Gary Community Schools Corp., now with 13 schools is competing against 10 charter schools. Percentage wise, Gary has the highest in the nation.” Smith said the district has long been aware of the financial climate. “We have made changes; closed schools. We want the same chance to improve that Indianapolis had.”

Sen. Melton made a point about the history of school takeovers in Indiana. “I caution the state in going down the lane of the takeover of an entire school district for academic purposes. During the last six years, the state took over five or six schools. One school has a ‘B’ grade; all the others are still failing.”

The next meeting of the SB567 conference committee has not been scheduled. Rep. Smith said notification of conference committee meetings can be as little as two hours.

Story Posted:04/18/2017