As a parent, Kendra Johnson viewed Gary School Board meetings as a place to speak her mind on district policies that affected her kids.
Concerned over a bill that would cut board meetings down to less than a handful per year, Johnson told a Senate committee Thursday in Indianapolis that its actions could limit parents' options to be heard. She once had children in Gary schools for more than 20 years, Johnson said.
"That's where we aired our disagreements and grievances with them," Johnson said, who told a Senate committee she sold candy bars to afford a Greyhound ticket to Indianapolis.
The Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony for more than four hours on a contentious bill that could move the Gary School Board closer to elimination by reducing it to an advisory committee and capping meetings at four per year. It would require the emergency manager to hold a monthly forum to update the public.
It would also appoint Ball State University to run Muncie Schools and establish a watch list of other financially struggling schools, based on fiscal indicators.
No vote was taken and amendments are expected to be added. The bill passed the House earlier this month.
The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Tim Brown, R-Crawfordsville, again laid the blame at the feet of former Gary administrators and school boards, whom he cited for mismanagement.
Sen. Eddie Melton, D-Gary, testified the school board should be left intact as an elected entity.
"I don't think we should stifle a body of people that was elected by a constituency to represent them," he said.
The district remains more than $100 million in debt and received F-ratings for several years. This year, its accountability grade improved to a D.
Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, told Melton that Gary failed to make significant adjustments over several years that would have landed it in a better financial situation.
"We are still trying to get our hands around what a big hot mess this is," she said.
In August, a state takeover law stripped the school board and former superintendent of its powers. The board is limited to meeting once per month and cannot hold votes.
Frustrated with a lack of authority, former Board President Rosie Washington resigned in December. Former Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt's last day was Feb. 2.