The Gary Community School Corp. is using about 80% of its federal relief money on efforts to decrease learning loss, according to district manager Paige McNulty.
McNulty offered a “state of the district” update to the Gary City Council Tuesday saying it’s beginning to spend $46 million from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund to address the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
McNulty said Congress required districts to spend 20% of their funding on learning loss, an issue that schools across the nation are grappling with after months of remote learning.
“I think we’re probably the only district in the state doing that,” McNulty said of the 80% dedicated to academics.
She said the district expanded the school day, increased special education services, doubled the block for math and reading and added extra tutoring.
It hired eight more social workers, increased teacher professional development and purchased new math and reading curricula.
“Because of all that, we’re already starting to see academic gains,” she said.
McNulty’s comments were based on an internal assessment called i-Ready, a diagnostic measure of student progress given last fall and in the winter of this year.
“We have seen a 10(%) to 15% growth across the district in reading and math,” McNulty said. “Typical growth is 5%.”
Chief academic officer Kimberley Bradley said in the fall students tested at 10% above grade level in reading and the winter assessment showed them at 20% above grade level.
She said math results went from 2% to 9% above grade level.
“We know we have a long way to go … We attribute the increases to our hardworking teachers, the incorporation of more instructional time and the improved focus on curriculum.”
Bradley said summer school was also being expanded and will offer more support services for students.
McNulty said she’s overseeing spending from three revenue streams — $25 million provided from a state law allowing the deferral of state loans; a $72.1 million referendum fund and the federal COVID-19 relief funding.
Councilman Cozey Weatherspoon, D-2nd, asked McNulty about a student walkout March 3 at the West Side Leadership Academy and a reported lack of restroom supplies.
“This was unfortunately a small adult-led initiative,” McNulty said. She said the students were encouraged to walk out in the morning, but school officials weren’t briefed on the demonstration.
She said some students were taking the SAT exam for college admittance that day and five students had their tests invalidated due to the walkout.
Out of 18 restrooms at West Side, she said one stall door was missing and a replacement was on order.
“I think this got completely blown out of proportion for other than student-centered reasons,” she said.
The adults at a March 10 demonstration at West Side blamed the district’s state-hired MGT Consulting team for academic declines. They want the district returned to local control.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
