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Board signs MOU with Indiana Landmarks to inventory and begin preservation work on historic Gary school
Summary
Indiana Landmarks presented a plan to inventory content, conduct air-quality testing and engage the community on restoring a historic high school; the board approved a memorandum of understanding to begin the work.
Indiana Landmarks asked the Gary Community School Corporation for a memorandum of understanding to inventory and protect artifacts and building fabric at a locally significant historic high school in Gary. Yannis Trotter, director of the Indiana Landmarks Black Heritage Preservation Program, outlined the organization’s work statewide and said Indiana Landmarks would supply a project manager to organize a task force, conduct community engagement and perform content management and air-quality testing before any removal or restoration work.
"We want to begin community engagement and do the inventory," Trotter said, describing video archiving and other preservation steps. He said the MOU would include the city, the school corporation and Indiana Landmarks to cover the property and adjacent city-owned assets such as play courts.
Why it matters: The project aims to preserve Black heritage in Gary and attract attention and investment for reuse while protecting historically significant materials. Trotter said Indiana Landmarks has placed the site on a national list of endangered places and has begun preliminary documentation and outreach.
Board action: A board member moved to approve the MOU; after a second the board adopted the memorandum of understanding by roll call (5 yes, 0 opposition). The board directed staff to execute the MOU so Indiana Landmarks and its team can begin the inventory and planning work.
Next steps: Indiana Landmarks will lead content inventory and air-quality assessments, form a task force with representatives from state archives and local stakeholders, and coordinate subsequent preservation steps with the district and the city.
