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Residents urge stronger transparency, expanded after-school programs and reading supports at Gary schools meeting
Summary
Multiple community speakers at the Gary Community School board meeting urged clearer public documents, more after-school programming and expanded reading interventions after speakers cited third-grade reading proficiency data showing 36% (2023–24) and preliminary increases to 46%.
Several community members used the public-comment portion of the Gary Community School Corporation meeting to press for transparency, more after-school offerings and additional reading supports for students.
Education Coalition representative Dr. Mikaela Stannenberg (identified in the meeting as representing an education coalition) and other speakers raised concerns about the district’s online board documents and public access. Stannenberg encouraged the board to ensure required contracts and administrative documents are posted and accessible, saying it makes public participation and oversight easier.
A community speaker who identified herself as Christy Sasse raised specific concerns about third-grade reading proficiency. Citing slide materials presented earlier by Dr. Treadwell, she said the district’s 2023–24 third-grade reading pass rate was 36 percent and that preliminary figures for the most recent year were about 46 percent. Sasse said that historically students have been promoted despite low reading scores and urged outside help and targeted interventions for older students who had not mastered reading.
Sasse also noted the Woodson Library on Lake Street in Miller is open five days a week for the first time in five years and said she will volunteer free reading help for junior-high or high-school students on Mondays and Wednesdays at 2 p.m.; she provided contact details during the public-comment period.
Another resident, Lucy Sedlowski, spoke in support of the district’s summer programming and asked whether summer activities could extend into after-school programming during the school year. Several commenters asked about transportation funding and whether after-school programs could be incorporated into the district budget.
Superintendent Dr. Stokes and staff responded during the meeting to say after-school programs exist at district schools and that the district operates activity buses to support transportation for some programs. Staff invited residents to follow up offline for specifics about existing sites and transportation.
Speakers also urged the board to improve how the district’s history and school information are represented in local media and to provide clarifying context when media reports are incomplete. One commenter offered to assist the district and provided an email address for follow-up.
The board did not take immediate action on items raised in public comment during the meeting but several members thanked speakers and asked staff to follow up where appropriate.
