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Gary district declares emergency to speed repairs at McCullough Academy after tornado
Summary
After a tornado struck McCullough Academy, district officials declared an emergency under Indiana law to allow contracting for renovations without the usual advertising or bid process while insurance and scopes are finalized.
District officials told the Gary Community School Corporation Board of Trustees that McCullough Academy sustained damage during a tornado and that students have returned to the building while renovations are planned.
Linda Zaborowski, the district’s chief financial officer, read Indiana Code 36-1-12-9, saying the statute permits a school board, upon a declaration of emergency, to contract for a public project without advertising or bids. Zaborowski told the board the district is coordinating with its insurance company and the State Board of Accounts and has invited multiple contractors to bid once the project scope is finalized. Named vendors the district invited include Cassie Construction Company, Powers and Sons Construction and Skilled Incorporation (as listed in the meeting record).
Board President Suggs thanked staff for their work after the storm; the record notes that no one was injured when the E1 tornado hit and that staff relocated students in an organized manner. The board approved the emergency declaration by roll call (four affirmative votes, one nonresponse).
Why it matters: The emergency declaration allows the district to move faster on repairs and to seek contractor work outside the ordinary advertising and bid timelines while complying with the conditions in Indiana Code 36-1-12-9. The district said it expected to begin the renovation process immediately and indicated the renovation window would be approximately two months.
Details and next steps: District staff said they will work with the insurance carrier to finalize a scope of work and then solicit bids from invited vendors. The minutes instruct staff to follow State Board of Accounts guidance on emergency contracting and to document invitations and minutes as required by statute.
Ending: The board approved the emergency declaration and staff said they would begin the next steps to obtain quotes and proceed with renovation work as soon as insurance scopes are finalized.
