The Gary Community School Corporation Board of Trustees approved routine business and policy items at its Jan. 8 meeting, and district administrators provided information about a state funding‑floor requirement for teacher salaries.

The board voted 5‑0 to approve consent agenda items 5.1 through 5.5 and later approved action items 6.2 through 6.9 by a 5‑0 roll call. Trustees also approved the 2000 series of board policy templates (program policies) following an introduction and brief staff presentation; that motion carried on a 5‑0 roll call.

During the administrative report, Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes read and explained Indiana Code §20‑28‑9‑27, which addresses the “funding floor.” She said the statute requires that school corporations that receive increased tuition support from one fiscal year to the next must spend a minimum amount on full‑time teacher salaries during the state fiscal year. Stokes said the district would publish a notice and FAQs on the district website the next day and would make staff available to answer parent and community questions about the funding floor and related budget items.

Other informational items announced at the meeting included an open call for letters of interest for three appointments to the Gary Public Library Board (30‑day window) and parent outreach events: district sessions for families of current second‑ and third‑grade students about forthcoming assessments on Jan. 16 at 9 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., and a state preschool registration survey for families with incoming kindergarteners (the presentation included a QR code and a help line, 219‑881‑5644). District staff said families who complete the survey may be eligible for a modest gift card, as described in the district’s outreach materials.

Board members also recognized a donation from the Westside Alumni Association and asked staff to continue outreach to bring returning students back to district schools; trustees noted the district has recorded nearly 400 students returning since the end of state takeover. Dr. Stokes and staff said the district will continue its recruitment and community engagement efforts.