Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt offered an optimistic academic picture of the Gary Community School Corp., Monday, but said it still faces an uncertain financial future.
“Our funding levels are going down,” she said of the General Assembly’s proposed two-year budget. “We could lose $9 million. It gets very complicated when you continue to have those revenues taken from you,” she told members of the Gary Chamber of Commerce.
Also within the state budget bill, however, is a provision specifically for the Gary schools that could provide some breathing room. Inserted by state Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, it would allow the district to seek debt relief from the Distressed Unit Appeals Board after a public review of its finances.
With both chambers dominated by Republicans, the school funding formula is shifting to favor suburban school districts.
“We don’t have a problem giving Carmel more money, just leave our money alone,” Pruitt said.
“What affects Gary really affects all of Northwest Indiana.”
Meanwhile, on May 5, the district is asking taxpayers to approve a seven-year referendum of up to $7.4 million each year or a total of up to $51.8 million. Pruitt didn’t elaborate, but said accounts calling it a $51 million referendum weren’t true.
Pruitt said the district plans to do maintenance improvements on boilers and roofs and other physical needs. Pruitt said the money would also increase the district’s ability to attract quality teachers.
“This is an opportunity for history to be created,” she said.
As part of her 2025 vision, Pruitt said Gary may have “one large beautiful campus in the middle of the city” for all its students.
Pruitt blamed reduced state funding, low property tax collections, and a high student mobility rate for the district’s financial woes. “It gets very complicated when you continue to have those revenues taken from you,” she said.
Pruitt said in the past two years, the district has cut the number of its failing schools in half. It has plans to spur improvement in schools still in jeopardy — Jefferson, Marquette, Beveridge.
To offset the lack of funding, Pruitt said the district is seeking endowments, corporate donations and partnerships. The district has joined Pathways to College, an initiative supported by Oprah Winfrey that sends first-generation students to college from struggling school districts.
“We want to make sure that whatever happens in the legislature, that we will be able to take care of our children,” she said.
